neither worked

USAGE SUMMARY

"neither worked" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you want to express the idea that neither of two or more people, things, or actions was successful or successful in achieving a desired result. For example: "The students tried two different methods, but neither worked."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

28 human-written examples

Neither worked.

The New York Times

Neither worked out well.

The Guardian - Sport

When neither worked, she turned to plastic surgery.

The New York Times

Neither worked, so I decided to tell the story from both points of view.

The New Yorker

(Two other, somewhat less restrictive diets are also being prescribed for epileptic children, but neither worked as well for Sam).

The New York Times - Magazine

As for Ard, he said he had tried contact lenses and goggles but neither worked for him.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

32 human-written examples

Since they were neither working nor looking for work, they were not counted as unemployed.

The New York Times

In Greece, over a quarter of young people are neither working nor in education and training.

The Economist

But the Home Office challenged his immigration status so he can neither work nor claim benefits.

Independent

A majority of unemployed people fall into a third category: neither working nor looking.

The New York Times

Among black 16- to 19-year-olds, 14% are neither working nor in school.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "neither worked", ensure the context clearly identifies the two items or actions you are referring to. Clarity prevents ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "neither worked" when referring to more than two items. The phrase is specifically for two, use "none" or "none of them" for more than two.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "neither worked" functions as a conjunction phrase, indicating that two previously mentioned actions or items were unsuccessful. As Ludwig AI explains, it conveys the failure of both attempts or options.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Science

38%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "neither worked" is a grammatically sound and relatively common expression used to convey the failure of two specific attempts or items. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's appropriate for expressing that two actions did not yield the desired result. Predominantly found in news and scientific contexts, it maintains a neutral register suitable for various writing styles. Remember to use it only when referring to two items; for more than two, use "none worked". Consider alternatives like "both failed" or "neither was effective" for stylistic variation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

both failed

Emphasizes the failure of two specific things, actions, or entities.

both were unsuccessful

States directly that both attempts did not meet the criteria for success.

none succeeded

Highlights that all attempts were unsuccessful.

neither was effective

Focuses on the ineffectiveness of two specific approaches or solutions.

neither produced results

Focuses on the lack of tangible outcomes from the attempts.

both proved fruitless

Indicates that the attempts yielded no positive results.

neither bore fruit

Uses a metaphor to describe the lack of positive results from either attempt.

both fell short

Indicates that both attempts failed to reach the required standard or expectation.

neither achieved the desired outcome

Highlights that the anticipated result was not obtained by either attempt.

both were in vain

Suggests that the efforts were ultimately pointless and without value.

FAQs

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

Use "neither worked" when referring to two specific attempts, methods, or items that both failed to produce the desired result. For example, "We tried two different approaches, but "neither worked"".

What's the difference between "neither worked" and "none worked"?

"Neither worked" refers to exactly two items or attempts that failed, whereas "none worked" refers to three or more. Using the correct term ensures accuracy.

What can I say instead of "neither worked"?

You can use alternatives like "both failed", "neither was effective", or "both were unsuccessful" depending on the context.

Is "neither worked" grammatically correct?

Yes, "neither worked" is grammatically correct when used to indicate that two specific attempts or items were not successful. Make sure that you are using the term only in a context involving two things that didn't work.