neither of the two

USAGE SUMMARY

"neither of the two" is correct and usable in written English.
This phrase is used to refer to two items, usually two options, when none of them are applicable. For example, "I don't like either of the two options presented, so I will choose neither of the two."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Unfortunately, we did neither of the two today.

BBC

Neither of the two.

The Guardian - Sport

Neither of the two people was identified.

The New York Times - Sports

Neither of the two ends for me; neither of the two is kept aside for me.

The New York Times

Neither of the two have spoken publicly about the episode.

The New York Times

But neither of the two Israeli chief rabbis was present.

The New York Times

Neither of the two said anything before they died.

The Guardian

Neither of the two people involved thought so.

The Guardian

Neither of the two founders is a conservative Christian.

The New York Times

Neither of the two returned to the industry.

The New York Times - Arts

Neither of the two victims was individually targeted.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "neither of the two", ensure you have clearly defined the two options being referenced to avoid ambiguity for the reader.

Common error

Avoid using a plural verb after "neither of the two" when it refers to singular entities. Use a singular verb to maintain grammatical correctness. For example: "Neither of the two options is available."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "neither of the two" functions as a negative determiner phrase. It introduces a negative condition, specifying that not one of two identified options or items is being considered or is applicable, as supported by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

25%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "neither of the two" is a commonly used and grammatically sound way to indicate that neither of two options is applicable. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and widespread use in various contexts, from News & Media to Science. When using this phrase, remember to clearly define the two options being referenced and maintain subject-verb agreement by using a singular verb. Alternatives such as "/s/not+either+of+them not either of them" or "/s/none+of+the+pair none of the pair" can be used for variety, but it's important to retain the intended meaning. Avoiding misusing "neither of the two" with plural verbs, instead, always keep its singular form.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not either of them

Rephrases the exclusion with a focus on rejecting each individual item.

not one of the two

Emphasizes that zero items out of the pair satisfy the condition.

none of the pair

Uses a more succinct term 'pair' instead of repeating 'two'.

not a single one of the two

Adds emphasis to the negation with 'not a single one'.

neither one of them

Swaps the order but keeps the same semantic core of indicating zero.

not any of the two

Utilizes 'any' to broadly negate the items from the two.

not either

Reduces the scope to just indicate a negative choice between two implicitly known elements

in no way both

Emphasizes the impossibility of both elements being true or applicable.

absolutely no one of the two

Emphasizes the absence of a particular entity (where the two options are people).

not in either case

Applies the negation to a general scenario or condition rather than specific elements.

FAQs

How to use "neither of the two" in a sentence?

Use "neither of the two" when you want to indicate that none of two options or items being considered are true, applicable, or chosen. For example: "Neither of the two candidates /s/neither+one+of+them met the qualifications for the job."

What can I say instead of "neither of the two"?

You can use alternatives like "/s/not+either+of+them not either of them", "/s/not+one+of+the+two not one of the two", or "/s/none+of+the+pair none of the pair depending on the context to convey a similar meaning.

Which is correct, "neither of the two is" or "neither of the two are"?

The correct form is "neither of the two is" when referring to singular subjects. Using "is" maintains subject-verb agreement in standard English grammar.

What's the difference between "neither of the two" and "none of the two"?

"Neither of the two" specifically refers to two options, whereas "none of the two" is generally considered incorrect. "None" is typically used when referring to three or more items. Use "neither" when the choice is strictly between two.