it is neither

USAGE SUMMARY

'it is neither' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are contrasting two options. For example: "I'm trying to decide between pizza or a hamburger for dinner, but it is neither - I think I'll have a salad instead."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It is neither.

The New York Times - Books

But it is neither.

Forbes

Today, it is neither.

The Guardian

Frankly it is neither.

The Guardian - Opinion

In fact, it is neither.

Princeton University

In truth, it is neither.

Harvard University

For Foucan, it is neither.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

It is neither practical nor feasible.

Independent

It is neither convenient nor secure.

The Economist

It is neither painful nor itchy.

Cornell University

It is neither referenced nor peer-reviewed.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure that the items being negated are parallel in structure to maintain clarity. For instance, "It is neither surprising nor unexpected" uses two adjectives.

Common error

Avoid using "it is neither" when referring to more than two options. "Neither" is designed to negate only two choices. For more than two, use "none of the above" or rephrase to address each option individually.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it is neither" functions as a correlative conjunction introducing two negative possibilities. As Ludwig AI indicates, this phrase is grammatically correct and used to deny two options, offering a clear contrast. The provided examples show it used in a variety of contexts to express that something does not belong to either of the stated categories.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it is neither" serves as a concise way to negate two options, as validated by Ludwig AI. It is grammatically sound and versatile, appearing across diverse contexts such as news, academia, and science. Use it to clearly state that something does not belong to either of two mentioned categories. Ensure to use "nor" correctly with "neither", and avoid using it when you have more than two options to negate. By following these guidelines, you can effectively and correctly use "it is neither" in your writing and speech.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it's not either

Changes the verb conjugation and slightly alters the word order while maintaining the same meaning.

it is not the one nor the other

Emphasizes the exclusion from both options with a more formal tone.

it's neither this nor that

Uses demonstrative pronouns to refer to the options, providing a more direct exclusion.

it does not fall into either category

Rephrases the idea using 'fall into' to indicate belonging to a category.

it's not one thing or the other

Uses a more colloquial expression to convey the same meaning of not belonging to either option.

it is not this and it is not that

Breaks down the negation into two separate statements for emphasis.

it's not one nor the other

A shortened version of 'it is not the one nor the other', maintaining a formal tone.

it cannot be classified as either

Focuses on the act of classification and exclusion from both options.

it is beyond both

Suggests that the subject is outside the scope of both options, implying a different dimension.

it transcends both

Implies the subject is above or beyond both options, suggesting a higher level or understanding.

FAQs

How can I use "it is neither" in a sentence?

The phrase "it is neither" is used to negate two options. For example, "The result "is neither" good nor bad, but simply neutral."

What phrases are similar to "it is neither"?

Alternatives include "it's not either", "it is not the one nor the other", or "it does not fall into either category" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "it is neither this or that"?

No, the correct construction is "it is neither this nor that". The correlative conjunctions "neither" and "nor" must be used together.

Can I use "it is neither" when there are more than two options?

No, "it is neither" is specifically for negating two options. For more than two options, use "none of these", or rephrase your sentence.