neither did he

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "neither did he" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to express agreement with a negative statement made previously, indicating that the subject also did not do something. Example: "He didn't attend the meeting, and neither did he."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

But neither did he.

The Guardian - Sport

Neither did he use the word "drone".

The Guardian

No, but neither did he frown.

The New Yorker

Neither did he find well-paid work.

The Economist

Neither did he want to play victims.

The New York Times

I didn't shatter, and neither did he.

The New Yorker

Neither did he give the PP a democratic structure.

The Economist

The polite audience didn't blink, and neither did he.

The New York Times

But neither did he dismiss them out of hand.

The New York Times

Neither did he forget those still in jail.

The Economist

Neither did he get any feedback about his driving.

The Guardian - Money

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "neither did he", ensure the auxiliary verb "did" matches the tense of the original negative statement for grammatical accuracy and clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "neither did he" when the original statement uses a different tense. For example, if the first statement is in the present perfect ("He hasn't finished"), use "neither has he" instead of "neither did he".

Linguistic Context

"Neither did he" functions as a negative concord phrase, expressing agreement with a previously stated negative action or state. It essentially means 'he also did not'. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage for indicating a shared absence of action.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Encyclopedias

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Wiki

7%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "neither did he" is a grammatically sound and common way to express that someone else shares the same negative experience or action as previously mentioned. According to Ludwig AI, it’s used to efficiently agree with a negative statement. It is commonly found in news articles, encyclopedias and scientific writings, making it appropriate for a range of contexts. For alternative phrasing, consider using ""nor did he"" or "he didn't either". Make sure to maintain verb tense consistency and avoid using it in response to positive statements.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

nor did he

This alternative uses "nor" instead of "neither", providing a slightly more formal tone but maintaining the same negative concord.

he didn't either

This option rephrases the sentence to a more direct statement of negation, using "either" for emphasis.

he also didn't

This alternative is a simpler, less formal way of expressing the same idea, focusing on the lack of action.

he didn't do so either

This version adds "do so" to explicitly refer back to a previous action, clarifying the reference.

he, too, did not

This alternative emphasizes "he" and uses a more formal "did not" instead of "didn't".

he did not do it either

This variation explicitly includes "it" to refer to the action, enhancing clarity in some contexts.

similarly, he did not

This option introduces the statement with "similarly", highlighting the parallel lack of action.

he wasn't

A shorter, more casual way of saying he did not.

he failed to as well

More emphasis is given to his failure to do so.

it wasn't like that for him either

This is a bit more roundabout, but still gets to the point.

FAQs

How can I use "neither did he" in a sentence?

The phrase "neither did he" is used to indicate that someone else also did not perform an action. For example, "John didn't go to the party, and "neither did he"." It shows agreement with a negative statement.

What's the difference between "neither did he" and "nor did he"?

"Neither did he" and "nor did he" are mostly interchangeable. "Nor" is sometimes considered more formal, but both serve the same function of expressing agreement with a negative statement.

Is it correct to say "he didn't either" instead of "neither did he"?

Yes, "he didn't either" is a correct alternative to "neither did he", though it might be perceived as slightly less formal. Both convey the same meaning.

Can I use "neither did he" if the first part of the sentence is positive?

No, "neither did he" is used to agree with a negative statement. If the first part of the sentence is positive, you would use a different construction such as "he did too" or "so did he".