neither line

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "neither line" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to two lines or options and indicating that neither of them is applicable or acceptable. Example: "In this situation, neither line of reasoning holds up under scrutiny."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

21 human-written examples

SINEU may be classified to a new group of retroposons, neither LINE nor SINE.

Genome Biology and Evolution

Neither line was threatened.

The Guardian - Sport

Neither line appeared in the Jewish News piece.

The Guardian

He should have neither line nor staff responsibility in the conventional sense, but should hold a position similar to an industrial medical officer.

Harvard Business Review

Both men have threatened that the consequence of Iran crossing their respective lines would be attacks on Iran's nuclear infrastructure, but neither line has been drawn clearly.

The Economist

He worked on depression and on diagnostic interview techniques, but neither line of inquiry produced the radical innovation or epic discovery that he would need to make his name.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

39 human-written examples

The rankings of the other group, however, went haywire, with subjects' preferences neither in line with one another's nor in line with the preferences of the experts.

The New York Times

It is neither in line with the role of expectations in Chinese family culture under the feedback model (Fei 1983), nor in line with the Western individualistic cultural tradition of the self-determined individual (Yan 2006, 2011, 2012).

The Journal of Chinese Sociology

The issue was that Alice Cooper had neither a line manager nor a gross misconduct clause in any contract he ever signed.

Vice

In these measurements, the orthovanadate peak neither exhibits line broadening nor chemical shift changes, suggesting a very low affinity (Kd>1 m m, Figure S20).

Angewandte Chemie - International Edition

At the time, the company had neither lined up a successor to Ms. Godoff as editor in chief nor decided how to reassign the many authors she handled to other editors, people at Random House say.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "neither line", ensure it's clear which two lines or options you are referring to. Clarity in context is crucial for effective communication.

Common error

Avoid using "neither line" when more than two options exist. If you have more than two options, consider using "none of the lines" or rephrasing to be more specific.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "neither line" functions as a determiner phrase, specifically indicating that none of the two previously mentioned lines or options are applicable. It expresses a negative condition concerning two specific items, as confirmed by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

45%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "neither line" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to indicate that two specific options or lines are not applicable. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability across various contexts, particularly in scientific and news-related domains. To enhance clarity, ensure the context clearly defines the two lines being referenced and consider alternatives like "not either line" or "none of the lines" for nuanced expression. Avoiding the use of this phrase when dealing with more than two options will further improve precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not either line

Replaces "neither" with "not either", emphasizing the negation of both options.

none of the lines

Uses "none of" to indicate that no line is applicable.

not one line

Emphasizes that not a single line meets the criteria.

no line whatsoever

Adds emphasis to the absence of any applicable line.

no single line

Highlights that there isn't even one that fits the requirement.

not a single line

Similar to "no single line", stressing the absence of even one.

zero lines

Expresses the absence in a quantitative manner.

no lines are

States explicitly that no lines fulfill the given conditions.

not any line

A more emphatic way of saying "not either line".

no line exists

Emphasizes the absence of any valid line.

FAQs

What does "neither line" mean?

The phrase "neither line" indicates that out of two specific lines or options, none of them are applicable, correct, or chosen.

How can I use "neither line" in a sentence?

You can use "neither line" to express that two options are not valid. For example: "Neither line of reasoning holds up."

What can I say instead of "neither line"?

Alternatives to "neither line" include "not either line", "none of the lines", or "no line whatsoever", depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "neither line" in formal writing?

Yes, "neither line" is appropriate for formal writing. It is a grammatically correct and clear way to express that two specific options are not valid.