neither test

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "neither test" is not correct in standard written English.
It may be intended to express that neither of two tests is applicable or relevant, but it lacks clarity and context. Example: "In this experiment, we found that neither test provided conclusive results."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Kuhn's view is that during normal science scientists neither test nor seek to confirm the guiding theories of their disciplinary matrix.

SEP

Each photograph of 10 tests included two invalid results, one illustrated by no line (neither test nor control) and one illustrated by a test line only (no control line).

American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

Mild abnormalities on urinalysis, such as positive nitrite or leukocyte esterase readings on dipsticks, or moderate numbers of white blood cells on microscopy, are common in asymptomatic bacteriuria [ 96, 97], so neither test should be used as a screen for UTI.

Drugs and Aging

The truth is that neither test works that well.

The New York Times

If it were up to Robert Schaeffer, public education director of FairTest, an advocacy group critical of standardized testing, neither test would be required.

The New York Times

Neither test has received a certification for accuracy that is necessary for use in child custody cases, though Natera has applied.

The New York Times - Health

Neither test was run with any of the vehicle's accessories switched on.That may have been fine in the early 1980s when people drove slower, traffic was lighter, cars had fewer power-draining appliances, and air-conditioning and automatic gearboxes were nowhere near as prevalent as they are today.

The Economist

Neither test was announced in advance.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

Neither test accurately assesses her overall knowledge and abilities or predicts her future school endeavors (Kagan, 2005).

International Journal of Child Care and Education Policy

Since neither test was announced in advance, the pre-test scores are likely to be fair reflections of the knowledge students had at the time.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

performance entered into the analysis at Step 2, suggesting that neither test accounted for significant variance in the number of estimates (this was true even when these variables were entered in first).

Cognitive Research: Principles and Implications

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider rephrasing as "not either test" if you want to emphasize the individual exclusion of each test.

Common error

Avoid using "neither test" without explicitly mentioning or clearly implying which two tests are being discussed. This can lead to confusion for the reader.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "neither test" functions as a conjunction phrase, connecting two tests and indicating that neither of them satisfies a particular condition or yields a desired outcome. This is supported by Ludwig's analysis, which notes its frequent usage across various domains.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

63%

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

1%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "neither test" is a commonly used phrase across various contexts, particularly in science and news media, to indicate that two specific tests have failed to meet certain criteria or provide satisfactory results. While its grammatical correctness has been questioned by Ludwig, its frequency suggests it's widely accepted. For enhanced clarity, alternatives such as ""not either test"" or more explicit rephrasing may be considered. When using this phrase, always ensure that the context clearly identifies the two tests being referenced to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not either test

Emphasizes the individual exclusion of each test rather than a collective rejection.

both tests failed

Highlights the failure aspect of the tests, shifting focus from exclusion to outcome.

none of the tests

Expands the scope to include the possibility of more than two tests.

not one test

Stresses the singular absence of a successful test result.

no test whatsoever

Adds a stronger emphasis on the complete absence of a valid test.

both tests were inconclusive

Focuses on the lack of definitive results from the tests.

neither of the assessments

Substitutes "test" with a synonym, "assessment", for a slight variation in wording.

both evaluations were ineffective

Replaces "test" with "evaluation" and emphasizes ineffectiveness.

no examination was successful

Uses "examination" in place of "test", highlighting the absence of success.

the tests were both invalid

Focuses on the invalidity of the tests rather than their exclusion.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "neither test" for better clarity?

Consider using phrases like "not either test", "both tests failed", or specifying the tests explicitly (e.g., "neither the A test nor the B test showed positive results").

Is "neither test" grammatically correct?

While commonly used, Ludwig AI points out that "neither test" is not correct in standard written English. Alternatives such as "not either test" can enhance clarity.

In what situations is "neither test" most appropriate?

"Neither test" is typically used in scientific or technical contexts where two specific tests are being compared or evaluated. However, ensure the context makes it clear which tests are being referred to.

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

"Neither test" implies that there are specifically two tests being considered, while "none of the tests" suggests that there could be more than two.