either or neither

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "either or neither" is not correct in standard written English. You can use "either" or "neither" separately, but not together in this way. An example could be: "You can choose either option." Alternative expressions include "one or the other" and "not one nor the other."

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

Either or neither way, the Something/Nothings aren't telling.

The New York Times

Nonetheless, the accessible ranges of solution composition and deposition potential permit controlled deposition of films in which either (or neither) component is dominant.

Electrochimica Acta

For 'Buying' preference tests, consumers specify which of two foods they are more likely to buy or whether they might buy either or neither.

Food Quality and Preference

Whether either or neither is the case, no one will be able to determine with final ity in the voting Tuesday.

The New York Times

I cooked the shrimp, which took another five, and finished the dish with lemon and parsley; it would have been fine with either, or neither.

The New York Times - Food

In the climate of today's undeclared war, private media in democracies are free to take either or neither side, but U.S. taxpayer-supported broadcasting is supposed to be on our side.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

In any case, I don't think that this debate needs to be an either-or; neither, I think, do either of the participants.

The Economist

It is far too soon to say whether either, both or neither of the tunnels will be built.

The New York Times

Depending on how loosely one uses the term inventor, I believe that the answer is either both or neither.

The New York Times - Tech

(In preparation for this discovery, the scientist had collected his family's DNA 25 years ago). All of his affected siblings also carried both of the mutations, while the unaffected family members carried either one or neither, exactly the pattern for a recessive disease.

MIT Technology Review

(If she had held the diamond ten and weak spades, she would have played her clubs in ascending order. And if she had either both or neither the spade queen and diamond ten, she would have played her clubs in some other sequence).

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In formal writing, consider adding a comma before 'or' to clarify that the options are separate logical states.

Common error

Avoid using "either or neither" when you actually mean 'both'. If both conditions must be true simultaneously, this phrase will incorrectly suggest they are mutually exclusive or potentially non-existent.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "either or neither" functions as a complex conjunction or a disjunctive construction. In many instances recorded by Ludwig, it acts to bridge a gap between existence and non-existence within a binary set. It is frequently used to provide exhaustive logical coverage of potential outcomes.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

55%

News & Media

25%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "either or neither" is a highly effective, though somewhat technical, construction used to describe scenarios involving two options and their potential absence. Ludwig AI indicates that while some grammar checkers might flag it, its prevalence in elite publications like The New York Times and Scientific Reports proves its validity in professional writing. It serves as a shorthand for 'one of the two, or none of them', making it indispensable for precise logic. Writers should prioritize clarity and consider whether a comma is needed to improve readability for a general audience.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

one or the other

Focuses strictly on the selection of exactly one of the two choices.

both or neither

Changes the scope to include the possibility of selecting both options together.

either one or none

More explicit about the 'none' aspect of the choice.

neither one nor the other

Strictly emphasizes the exclusion of both items.

one, both or neither

Covers all logical possibilities involving two items.

none of the above

Commonly used in multiple-choice formats to reject all previous options.

whichever or none

Uses a relative pronoun to suggest any available choice or no choice.

at least one or none

Adds a layer of quantitative logic to the selection.

any or none

Broadens the scope beyond just two specific items.

zero or more

Mathematical approach to expressing existence or quantity.

FAQs

How to use "either or neither" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe a state where either of two things applies or neither does. For example: "The result could be "either or neither" depending on the variables."

Is "either or neither" grammatically correct?

Yes, it is acceptable, especially in scientific and logical contexts. However, in prose, many writers prefer using "one or the other" or "neither" separately for better flow.

What can I say instead of "either or neither"?

Depending on the context, you might say "one or none", "either one", or "none of them".

What is the difference between "either or neither" and "both or neither"?

The phrase "either or neither" implies a choice between one of two options or none. In contrast, "both or neither" suggests that the options must either occur together or not occur at all.