none of two

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "none of two" is not correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used incorrectly as it suggests a comparison or selection among two items, which is not logically sound. Example: "Out of the two options presented, none of two were suitable for our needs."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

None of two weakly increasing mappings need be non-decreasing.

Bulletin of Mathematical Sciences

Remark 1(1) None of two weakly increasing mappings need be nondecreasing.

Fixed Point Theory and Applications

(1) None of two weakly increasing mappings need be non-decreasing.

Bulletin of Mathematical Sciences

Although none of two bounds in (1.2) and (2.10) are uniformly better than other in general, the condition in the (2.10) is weaker than the one in (1.2).

Journal of Inequalities and Applications

[19] The mapping T is called dominating if x ⪯ T x for each x in X. Remark 1 (1) None of two weakly increasing mappings need to be nondecreasing.

Fixed Point Theory and Applications

Of note, none of two probes displayed flat baseline fluorescence, which nevertheless exerted no influence on the melting peaks of the hybrids.

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

None of four Muslims found guilty were convicted of the harshest charge, murder.

The New York Times

None of four former prisoners interviewed said they had been beaten.

The New York Times

He caught none of three base stealers but was pleased with his form.

The New York Times

None of nine Westchester communities recently contacted prohibit women from playing on male softball teams.

The New York Times

CFA of the perception scale revealed none of three models tested fit reliably across the waves.

Personality and Individual Differences

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Prefer using "neither" when referring to two items as it is grammatically correct and more concise than "none of two". For example, instead of saying "None of two options are viable", use "Neither option is viable".

Common error

Avoid using "none of two" when you intend to compare or contrast two specific items. This phrasing is typically considered incorrect. Instead, use "neither" to indicate that neither of the two items satisfies a condition or is true.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "none of two" functions as a negative determiner, attempting to negate both of a pair of items. However, this usage is generally considered grammatically incorrect. As Ludwig AI points out, "none of two" is not correct and usable in written English. It's typically replaced by the word "neither".

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "none of two" appears in various sources, it is generally considered grammatically incorrect. As Ludwig AI highlights, it is not the appropriate way to express the negation of two specific items. The preferred and more accurate alternative is "neither". Although examples can be found in both scientific and news contexts, it’s essential to use "neither" to ensure grammatical correctness and clarity. When writing or editing, replace "none of two" with "neither" for accurate communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

neither

A single word to express that not one or the other of two items is true.

not one of the two

Emphasizes the singularity of the items and negates them individually.

not either of the two

Similar to "not one of the two", but highlights the choice between them.

not a single one of the two

Adds emphasis to the lack of any positive instance.

in neither case

Focuses on situations or cases, indicating absence in both.

in no instance of the two

Formal and emphatic way to say that something does not occur in either situation.

not in either situation

Similar to "in neither case", but more explicit about the context.

without exception for either

Highlights the lack of exceptions for both items or situations.

not applicable to both

Indicates that something is not relevant or valid for either of the two.

not true for either

States that a condition or statement does not hold for either of the two items.

FAQs

Is "none of two" grammatically correct?

The phrase "none of two" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. A more appropriate alternative is "neither", which is specifically used to refer to two things.

What does "none of two" mean?

While grammatically questionable, "none of two" attempts to convey that neither of two options or items is applicable or true. A clearer way to express this is by using "neither".

When should I use "neither" instead of "none of two"?

You should always use "neither" when you're referring to two items, options, or possibilities. "Neither" is the correct term to indicate that not one or the other is true or applicable.

What are some alternatives to "none of two"?

Besides "neither", you can rephrase the sentence to use constructions like "not one of the two" or "not either of the two" for a clearer and grammatically sound expression.