has been neither

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'has been neither' is correct and can be used in written English.
Example sentence: "The new law has been neither popular nor successful with the mayor's constituents."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

The process has been neither easy nor pretty.

The New York Times - Sports

Detroit's fall from grace has been neither swift nor painless.

The Guardian

That has been neither personally agreeable nor nationally edifying.

The Guardian

But openness has been neither encouraged nor entirely accepted.

The Guardian

One of the world's most famous artists, he has been neither jailed nor free.

The New Yorker

The African state, as invented by Europeans, has been neither deconstructed nor reconstituted.

The Economist

I can assure you that my shredding process has been neither quick nor easy.

The New Yorker

Yet campaigning ahead of this weekend's election to the European Parliament has been neither.

The Economist

THE 110th Congress has been neither bipartisan nor effective, but one act is sailing through nimbly.

The Economist

Yet that migration has been neither as dexterous nor as profitable as Zagat backers had hoped.

The New York Times

The allegations against Charney show that American Apparel has been neither happy nor profitable lately.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "has been neither", ensure that you clearly define the two qualities or states that are being negated. This enhances clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "has been neither" when referring to a singular noun. This phrase is designed for negating two distinct characteristics or possibilities. For singular subjects, consider using alternatives such as "is not" or "was not".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been neither" serves as a negative correlative conjunction. It connects two negated elements, indicating that something does not possess either of the stated qualities or characteristics. Ludwig confirms this usage is grammatically correct and widely accepted.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "has been neither" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to indicate that something lacks two specific qualities or characteristics. Ludwig’s analysis confirms its validity and widespread acceptance. It appears most frequently in news media and scientific contexts, with a neutral to formal register. When using this phrase, clarity is key to ensure the two negated qualities are well-defined. Although widely accepted, remember that several alternatives such as "is not either" or "fails to be both" exist and could add nuance. Ludwig AI confirms that the expression is suitable for formal contexts and its use is considered correct.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was neither

Change in tense from present perfect to past simple.

is not either

Change in tense and construction.

has not been either

Change in construction to avoid double negation.

is neither

Change from present perfect to present simple.

was not exactly

Use of an adverb to soften the negation.

cannot be described as

Change in construction to use a descriptive verb.

does not qualify as

Change in construction to use a verb of qualification.

fails to be both

Change in structure using a verb expressing failure.

lacks both

Use of a verb to indicate a lack of both qualities.

does not possess either

Use of a formal verb to indicate absence of qualities.

FAQs

How can I use "has been neither" in a sentence?

The phrase "has been neither" is used to indicate that something does not possess two particular qualities or characteristics. For example, "The project "has been neither" successful nor efficient".

What are some alternatives to "has been neither"?

Alternatives include phrases like "is not either", "is neither", or "fails to be both", depending on the nuance you want to convey. For example, instead of saying "The outcome "has been neither" expected nor desired", you could say "The outcome "is not either" expected or desired".

Is it correct to say "has been neither X nor Y"?

Yes, the correct structure is "has been neither X nor Y", where X and Y are the two qualities or states being negated. This construction is grammatically sound and widely accepted.

What's the difference between "has been neither" and /s/"is+neither"?

"Has been neither" implies a present perfect tense, suggesting a state that started in the past and continues to the present, while "is neither" is in the present simple tense, describing a current state. The choice depends on whether you want to emphasize the duration or the current status.