neither have we

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "neither have we" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to express agreement with a negative statement made previously, indicating that the speaker also does not have or has not done something. Example: "They haven't finished their project on time, and neither have we."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

36 human-written examples

Neither have we ignored social inequality, as Ms Ghannoushi implies.

The Guardian - Opinion

But neither have we found any other explanation for these symptoms".

The New York Times

Neither have we heard much about the equally misguided reverse Bradley effect, which made the rounds among the pundit chattering class.

The New York Times

"I haven't heard anything in reference to Michael and neither have we met, or discussed, or done anything about Michael, Jenkinss told BBC Sport Wales.

The Guardian - Sport

"This is not the end of the road for Dreamland, and neither have we seen the last of the Scenic Railway," the Thanet council leader, Sandy Ezekiel, said.

The Guardian

"But Spenser has proved them all wrong," said the Scharfmans' other son, Adam, 17. "He's never given up, and neither have we".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

24 human-written examples

Neither had we.

The Guardian

No, neither had we – but thanks to this unusual commercial from France we now have a pretty good idea.

The Guardian

Neither had we 'gone beyond' the findings of the primary studies and generated additional concepts, understandings or hypotheses.

BMC Medical Research Methodology

Reed: From neither one have we seen any impact.

TechCrunch

Please Note: We neither have sponsors nor are we getting paid by the speakers.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "neither have we", ensure it directly follows a negative statement to clearly indicate agreement. This avoids ambiguity and strengthens the connection between the ideas.

Common error

Avoid using "neither have we" if the preceding statement isn't explicitly negative. This can lead to confusion and grammatical errors. Instead, rephrase the sentence to ensure a clear connection to a negative assertion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "neither have we" functions as an agreement marker in response to a preceding negative statement. Ludwig confirms its role in expressing shared negation. Examples show it used in diverse contexts to indicate that the speaker and others share a similar lack of experience, knowledge, or action.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

42%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "neither have we" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression for indicating agreement with a negative statement. As Ludwig confirms, it effectively conveys shared negation across various contexts. While "nor have we" offers a more formal alternative, "we haven't either" provides a more informal option. This phrase finds frequent use in both news and scientific reporting, reflecting its versatility and broad applicability in written and spoken English. Just remember to use it after a negative statement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

nor have we

Formal alternative, using "nor" instead of "neither" for negative concord.

we haven't either

Informal alternative, placing the negative at the end of the sentence.

we've not either

A contraction of "we have not either".

we don't have either

Alternative using "don't" for present tense negative agreement.

we haven't also

Less common, but conveys a similar meaning by adding "also" for emphasis.

we too have not

More formal and somewhat emphatic restatement.

we do not have either

Formal version of "we don't have either".

we also have not

Slightly less emphatic than "we too have not".

similarly, we have not

Introduces the agreement with an adverb, adding a touch of formality.

like them, we haven't

Explicitly draws a comparison to a previous subject, highlighting the shared negative state.

FAQs

How can I use "neither have we" in a sentence?

"Neither have we" is used to agree with a previous negative statement. For example, if someone says, "I haven't seen that movie," you can respond with "neither have we" to indicate that you also haven't seen it.

What's the difference between "neither have we" and "nor have we"?

Both "neither have we" and "nor have we" express agreement with a negative statement. "Nor" is generally considered more formal, but the meaning is essentially the same.

Is it incorrect to say "we haven't either" instead of "neither have we"?

No, "we haven't either" is a perfectly acceptable and more informal alternative to "neither have we". Both phrases convey the same meaning.

Can I use "neither have we" if the first statement is positive?

No, "neither have we" is specifically for agreeing with negative statements. If the first statement is positive, you would use a phrase like "we have too" or "so have we".