neither am I

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "neither am I" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in response to a negative statement or to express agreement with a negative sentiment. Example: "I don't like spinach." "Neither am I."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

"Neither am I". "Good point," Eric says, and turns to talk to Lucy Mantooth.

The New Yorker

Neither am I willing.

The New York Times

"And neither am I".

The New York Times

Neither am I bothered.

The Guardian - Travel

Sondheim: "Neither am I".

The New York Times

"And really, neither am I.

The New York Times

"Neither am I," Hillary said.

The New Yorker

But hey, neither am I.

The New York Times - Travel

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

The coaches aren't going to accept that, and neither am I. I've got to be better".

The New York Times - Sports

Neither am I. ROREM.

The New York Times

Neither am I. Maybe we'll date".

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "neither am I" to politely agree with a negative statement. Ensure the auxiliary verb matches the original statement's tense and form, maintaining grammatical parallelism.

Common error

Avoid using "neither I am" as it reverses the correct subject-verb order. Always use "neither am I" to maintain proper grammatical structure.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "neither am I" functions as an elliptical clause expressing agreement with a preceding negative statement. It mirrors the structure of the original statement, using inversion to emphasize the shared negative sentiment. Ludwig confirms its correct usage in this context.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

95%

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

1%

Less common in

Science

1%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "neither am I" is a grammatically correct and widely used phrase to express agreement with a negative statement. As Ludwig confirms, it’s most commonly found in news and media, with a neutral register suitable for both formal and informal contexts. Remember to maintain correct subject-verb order. Ludwig's analysis indicates that it's a very common and effective way to show shared negative sentiment.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

me neither

More informal and concise way to express the same agreement.

nor am I

A more formal equivalent, maintaining the inverted structure.

I'm not either

A less formal, more direct way of expressing agreement with a negative statement.

I don't either

Expresses agreement with a negative statement, specifically when "don't" is used.

I also am not

A slightly more emphatic and less common variation.

I am not as well

Emphasizes the similarity in a negative state or condition.

same here

An informal way of agreeing, suitable for casual conversation.

likewise

A polite and somewhat formal way of indicating a similar feeling or situation.

that applies to me too

Expresses that the previous negative statement is also true for the speaker.

the same goes for me

Indicates that the previously mentioned situation or feeling is also applicable to the speaker.

FAQs

How do I use "neither am I" in a sentence?

Use "neither am I" to express agreement with a negative statement. For example, if someone says, "I don't like coffee", you can respond with "neither am I" to indicate that you also do not like coffee.

What's a less formal alternative to "neither am I"?

A less formal alternative to "neither am I" is "me neither". It conveys the same meaning but is suitable for casual conversations.

Which is correct: "neither am I" or "neither I am"?

"Neither am I" is the correct grammatical structure. "Neither I am" is grammatically incorrect because it doesn't follow the standard subject-auxiliary inversion used after negative adverbs like "neither".

When should I use "nor am I" instead of "neither am I"?

Both "neither am I" and "nor am I" can be used interchangeably to agree with a negative statement. "Nor" is often considered more formal or literary than "neither", but their meaning is identical.