neither

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "neither" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to indicate that two or more entities are excluded. For example, "Neither Jax nor James was chosen for the job."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Neither, really.

The New York Times

Tampon is not a dirty word, and neither is vagina".

The New York Times

Although there was disappointment that neither Mike Leigh's much-fancied Topsy-Turvy, Anthony Minghella's The Talented Mr Ripley, nor Neil Jordan's The End of the Affair made it into the frame for best picture, the Brits did well overall.

The Guardian - Film

The supposedly leaked list contained the names of Kate Winslet (Holy Smoke) and Gwyneth Paltrow (The Talented Mr Ripley) as nominees but neither appeared in the final lists.

The Guardian - Film

But in a negotiation where neither side can have what it really wants, and where the least bad solution is as good as it gets, worrying too much about fairness can be suicidal.

The Economist

During the hearing, it emerged that neither HMRC, the Treasury or the UK bank regulators appear to have questioned why HSBC's Swiss subsidiary had become a magnet for thousands of rich people across Europe and whether there was any systemic problem in the bank's governance.

The Guardian

It is a typically British fudge that leaves neither side satisfied.

The Guardian

If the result is a mountain of corpses, the OCC will neither know nor care.

The Guardian - Opinion

Neither will Ben Bernanke, the current chairman of the Fed, whose term ends in January and who earlier pleaded a dubious "scheduling conflict".

The Guardian - Opinion

Neither member was permitted to take part in the voting for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, won by Russia and Qatar respectively.

The Guardian - Sport

Yet neither has formally declared a presidential bid, and neither has succeeded in pulling away from a second-tier bunch of candidates including senators Marco Rubio, Rand Paul and Ted Cruz.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure subject-verb agreement when using "neither". If "neither" refers to a singular subject, use a singular verb.

Common error

Avoid using a plural verb when "neither" refers to singular subjects. "Neither of the options are viable" should be "Neither of the options is viable".

Linguistic Context

The word "neither" functions as a determiner, pronoun, adverb, or conjunction. It serves to negate or exclude two or more options. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in various grammatical roles.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "neither" is a versatile term used to express negation or exclusion, commonly paired with "nor". Ludwig AI validates its grammatical correctness and frequent usage, primarily within news and media contexts. When using "neither", pay close attention to subject-verb agreement and avoid common errors such as using a plural verb with singular subjects. Consider alternatives such as "not either" or "nor" for stylistic variation. Overall, "neither" is a reliable and effective word for expressing negation when used correctly.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not either

Emphasizes the negation of one of two options.

not one nor the other

Highlights the exclusion of both options under consideration.

nor

Used as a conjunction to introduce a further negative statement.

not at all

Expresses a complete negation or lack of something.

in no way

Indicates a complete absence or impossibility.

not in the slightest

Emphasizes the absence of something to even a small degree.

by no means

Expresses strong disagreement or denial.

on no account

Indicates that something should absolutely not be done.

under no circumstances

Similar to 'on no account', emphasizing that something is forbidden.

not in any way

Highlights that something does not exist in any form or manner.

FAQs

How do you use "neither" in a sentence?

"Neither" is used to indicate that two or more things are not true or not possible. For example, "Neither John nor Mary went to the party."

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

"Neither" is used to negate two options, while "either" presents a choice between two options. For example, "Neither option is acceptable" vs. "Either option is acceptable."

What can I say instead of "neither"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "not either", "not one nor the other", or simply "nor".

Is it correct to say "neither is" or "neither are"?

It depends on the context. "Neither is" is used when referring to singular nouns, while "neither are" is used when referring to plural nouns or pronouns. For example, "Neither of them is available" (singular) vs. "Neither of the books are in stock" (plural).