it was neither

USAGE SUMMARY

"It was neither" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase when you are discussing two options and neither of them are the correct answer or choice. For example: I was asked whether I wanted to have a coffee or tea, but it was neither – I wanted a hot chocolate.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Israelite culture initially resembled that of its surroundings; it was neither wholly original nor wholly primitive.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Fortunately, it was neither.

Independent

Maybe it was neither.

The New York Times

It was neither.

The New York Times - Sports

In truth it was neither.

The Economist

Actually, it was neither.

The New York Times

In truth, it was neither.

The Guardian - Sport

It was neither cramped nor uninhabitable.

The New York Times

It was neither good nor bad".

The New York Times

It was neither spare nor bloody.

The New York Times

It was neither loud nor long.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "it was neither", ensure that the two options being negated are clearly defined in the context. This helps the reader understand exactly what is being excluded.

Common error

A common mistake is to use "it was neither" when referring to more than two options. "Neither" specifically applies to two choices only. For more than two, use "none of them" or a similar construction.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was neither" functions as a negating connector. It serves to explicitly deny that something belongs to either of two specified categories or possibilities. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Science

18%

Encyclopedias

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it was neither" is a versatile phrase used to negate two options, indicating that something does not belong to either category. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and widely used across various contexts, particularly in News & Media and Science. When using this phrase, ensure that the two options are clearly defined and that you're not trying to negate more than two choices. For alternatives, consider "it wasn't either" or "it was not one or the other" to maintain clarity and accuracy. Remember to avoid the common error of using "neither" for more than two options.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it wasn't either

Changes the tense of the verb 'was' to its negative form, 'wasn't', maintaining a similar meaning.

it proved to be neither

Adds emphasis on the result or discovery that something is neither.

it was not one or the other

Breaks down the 'neither' concept into a more explicit 'not one or the other'.

it wasn't this nor that

Uses 'this nor that' instead of 'neither', changing the structure but keeping the meaning.

it did not fall into either category

Rephrases to emphasize the lack of categorization, increasing formality.

it fitted neither description

Focuses on the descriptive aspect, implying something did not match any given description.

it corresponded to neither

Replaces 'was' with 'corresponded to', indicating a lack of alignment.

it aligned with neither

Similar to 'corresponded to', focusing on a lack of alignment or agreement.

it defied both options

Emphasizes a stronger rejection of both options presented.

it was unrelated to either

Shifts the focus to a lack of relationship or connection.

FAQs

How do you use "it was neither" in a sentence?

Use "it was neither" to negate two options. For example: "The outcome was presented as either a success or a failure, but "it was neither"".

What can I say instead of "it was neither"?

You can use alternatives like "it wasn't either", "it did not fall into either category", or "it was not one or the other depending on the specific context.

When is it appropriate to use "it was neither"?

Use "it was neither" when you want to express that something does not belong to or is not associated with two specific options or categories. It's important that only two options are being considered.

Is "it was neither" formal or informal?

"It was neither" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. The formality depends more on the surrounding language and the overall tone of the writing.