neither than

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "neither than" is not correct and usable in written English.
It seems to be a confusion of the phrases "neither" and "rather than," which serve different grammatical purposes. Example: "I would neither choose option A than option B."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The divide between "celebrities" and "journalists" is awkard for me because I'm neither, but less neither than a greengrocer is, if you see what I mean.

The Guardian - Opinion

Neither "than me" nor "than I" has a verb.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

However, the range was neither less than 2.5 nor more than 12.5.

International Journal of Geo-Engineering

In this study, all prepared CLSM mixtures did not possess corrosivity from the aspect of pH, within the limiting values of both bleed and leachate, neither less than 2.5 nor more than 12.5.   5.

International Journal of Geo-Engineering

The smiling human bomb is neither larger than life nor a monster, but an actor on a human scale.

Cornell University

I love them both, neither more than the other, but I don't know what to do.

Columbia University

We're neither "safer than we've ever been" nor in the midst of an unprecedented terror wave.

The Guardian - Opinion

Patients should also report neither more than one of photophobia, phonophobia or mild nausea and neither moderate nor severe nausea nor vomiting as requested by the ICHD-III diagnostic criteria [18].

The Journal of Headache and Pain

Neither more than two chemotherapy regimens in the advanced setting nor any prior capecitabine treatment were permitted.

Breast Cancer Research and Treatment

Neither did "Less Than Perfect," which starred a larger-than-usual actress, Sara Rue, and a venti-size sidekick, Sherri Shepherd.

The New York Times - Arts

No one there had heard of Soundgarden, and neither store had Louder Than Love in stock.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming to express negation with comparison, use the correct correlative conjunction "neither...nor". For example, "He is "neither rich nor famous"" is grammatically sound and widely accepted.

Common error

Avoid using "neither than" when you intend to use the correlative conjunction "neither...nor". "Neither than" is grammatically incorrect and may confuse your readers. Always pair "neither" with "nor" to properly convey the intended meaning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "neither than" functions incorrectly as it attempts to connect two negative elements but fails to adhere to standard grammatical rules. It is often a confusion with "neither...nor" or "rather than". Ludwig AI indicates it's not correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Academia

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "neither than" is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided in formal writing. As Ludwig AI points out, it is not considered standard English. The correct correlative conjunction is "neither...nor", which should be used to express that two options are not true. Although the phrase may occasionally appear in informal contexts, it's best to use grammatically correct alternatives such as "nor", "not either", or "rather than" depending on the intended meaning to ensure clarity and accuracy in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

nor

A more grammatically correct conjunction to pair with "neither", indicating a negative condition.

neither...nor

The correct construction for expressing that two options are not true or possible.

not either

Indicates that something is not true in addition to something else that is also not true.

rather than

Implies a preference or choice, differing from the simple negation of "neither than".

instead of

Suggests replacement of one thing by another, not mere negation.

not as...as

Used for comparisons where one item is less than another.

less than

Indicates a smaller quantity or degree.

not more than

Sets an upper limit, unlike the dual negation implied by "neither than".

no more than

Highlights a restriction or a minimal amount.

not so much as

Emphasizes a lack of action or quality, different from simple negation.

FAQs

How should I properly use "neither" in a sentence?

Always pair "neither" with "nor" to create a grammatically correct correlative conjunction. For example, use "neither rain nor snow" instead of an incorrect construction.

What is the difference between "neither than" and "rather than"?

"Neither than" is not a standard English construction. "Rather than" is used to express preference or choice, such as "I would choose this "rather than that"".

Can I use "neither or" instead of "neither nor"?

No, "neither" must be paired with "nor". "Neither or" is grammatically incorrect. The correct usage is "neither this nor that".

What are some alternatives to using "neither nor"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "not either", "not this and not that", or rephrase the sentence to avoid the need for a correlative conjunction altogether.