there was neither

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "there was neither" is perfectly correct and usable in written English.
You often use this phrase to mean that two or more things are not present. For example, you could say "There was neither food nor water in the pantry."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

THERE was neither pathos nor pride in his voice.

The Economist

(By 1936 she felt there was "neither love nor intelligence regarding art" over at MoMA).

The New York Times

There was neither cake nor Coke.

The New Yorker

Yet there was neither celebration nor protest.

The Economist

There was neither mixing nor hostility.

The New York Times

For a while, there was neither government nor rules.

The Economist

Yet there was neither exit strategy nor smooth replacement.

Independent

There was neither right nor left; there was only America.

The New York Times

But for many there was neither community nor care.

The Guardian

The Court of Appeals found there was neither reasonable grounds nor probable cause for Toy's arrest.

Cornell University

There was neither clinical nor radiographic evidence of a tumor in the pancreas itself.

Human Pathology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "there was neither", ensure you clearly state the two or more items that are absent to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "but" or "or" after "neither"; always pair it with "nor". For example, it should be "There was neither food nor water", not "There was neither food but water".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "there was neither" functions as an existential negation. It asserts the absence of two or more specific entities or conditions. As Ludwig AI states, the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used. The structure sets up an expectation that is then denied for multiple items.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

38%

News & Media

34%

Formal & Business

14%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "there was neither" is a grammatically correct and widely used construction to indicate the absence of multiple items or conditions. Ludwig AI confirms its validity, and its prevalence in both formal and informal contexts shows its versatility. Remember to pair "neither" with "nor", and ensure clarity by explicitly stating what is absent. While commonly found in scientific and news contexts, its use is not limited to these areas, making it a valuable tool in various forms of communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

there wasn't any

Replaces "neither" with "any", simplifying the sentence structure while maintaining the core meaning of absence.

there was not a single

Emphasizes the complete absence of something, intensifying the original phrase.

there existed no

Uses a more formal tone, replacing "was" with "existed" for a stronger sense of absence.

there did not occur

Similar to "existed no", but more actively emphasizes the non-occurrence of something.

lacked both

Condenses the phrase, focusing on the subject's deficiency rather than the absence.

was devoid of

Highlights the emptiness or lack of specific qualities or items.

contained no

Focuses on the absence of contents within a specific container or context.

failed to include

Emphasizes the omission or exclusion of something from a list or set.

there could not be found

Stresses the inability to locate or discover something.

nothing of either was present

Reverses the sentence structure to emphasize the absence more directly.

FAQs

How do I use "there was neither" in a sentence?

Use "there was neither" to indicate the absence of two or more things. For example, "There was neither a clear winner nor a clear loser in the debate."

What can I say instead of "there was neither"?

Alternatives include "there wasn't any", "there was not a single", or "lacked both" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "there was neither x or y"?

No, it's incorrect. "Neither" must be paired with "nor", not "or". The correct sentence structure is "There was neither X nor Y".

What's the difference between "there was neither" and "there was no"?

"There was no" indicates the absence of one thing, while "there was neither" indicates the absence of two or more specific things. For example, "There was no milk" vs. "There was neither milk nor sugar".