neither of which

USAGE SUMMARY

"neither of which" is a perfectly grammatical phrase in written English and is used to refer to two or more entities.
For example: The two cars were the same color, neither of which was particularly eye-catching.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Neither of which ever happened.

The New York Times - Food

Neither of which I did.

The New York Times - Books

Neither of which is ideal.

The Washington Post

Neither of which was easy.

The New York Times

Neither of which are taken for granted.

The Guardian

Neither of which I can verify.

The Guardian - Sport

Merika Reagan: Neither of which I could afford.

University of California, Berkeley

Marcus built two later autos, neither of which survives.

Britannica

He wrote two romcoms, neither of which have been made.

The Guardian

Neither of which you get in short-term shags.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Neither of which seems particularly appropriate or effective.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "neither of which" to clearly indicate that two specific items or options are excluded or do not possess a certain attribute. Ensure the antecedent is clearly defined to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "neither of which" when referring to more than two items. In such cases, opt for "none of which" to maintain grammatical accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "neither of which" functions as a conjunctive phrase introducing a nonrestrictive clause, providing additional information about two previously mentioned items while indicating that both do not possess a certain quality or characteristic. According to Ludwig, this usage is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Academia

20%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Science

2%

Wiki

0.1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "neither of which" is a versatile phrase used to negate two preceding items or options. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically sound and frequently used, particularly in news and academic contexts. Remember to limit its use to exactly two items; for more than two, "none of which" is the appropriate choice. Using it correctly ensures clarity and precision in your writing. The contexts of usage from Ludwig also show that this phrase is used in formal and neutral contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

none of which

Replaces "neither" with "none", extending the negation to potentially more than two items.

not one of which

Emphasizes the complete absence of the described quality or action across all items.

no one of which

Similar to "not one of which", highlighting the lack of a particular attribute in any of the items.

any of which not

Reorders the sentence to place negation at the end, creating a less common but grammatically valid structure.

of which neither

Inverts the phrase for a more formal or literary tone.

in neither of which

Adds a preposition to specify a location or context where the negation applies.

to neither of which

Introduces a preposition to express a relationship or direction where the negation is relevant.

for neither of which

Uses a preposition to indicate a purpose or reason where the negation is applicable.

nor of which

Uses "nor" to connect two negative clauses, emphasizing the absence of both.

in none of which

Expresses that a certain condition is not present in any of multiple situations or elements.

FAQs

How to use "neither of which" in a sentence?

"Neither of which" is used to indicate that two things are not true or do not apply. For example, "He presented two options, "neither of which" appealed to me."

What can I say instead of "neither of which"?

You can use alternatives like "none of which" (if referring to more than two items), "not one of them", or rephrase the sentence to avoid the construction altogether.

Is it correct to use "neither of which" when referring to more than two items?

No, "neither of which" should only be used when referring to exactly two items. For more than two, use "none of which".

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

"Neither of which" refers to two items, while "none of which" refers to three or more. The choice depends on the number of items being discussed.