If you are unsure whether to use either or neither, the key is to look at what you mean. These words are usually used when there are two people, things, or choices.
Either generally presents one of two possibilities, while neither excludes both.
They also appear in common structures such as either…or and neither…nor. However, their use is not limited to these pairs.
You can also use them with of, in negative replies, and in everyday sentences. Once you understand these patterns, the difference becomes much easier to remember.
Quick Answer
Either means one of two, while neither means not one and not the other. Use either…or to give two alternatives and neither…nor to reject both.
For example, “You can choose either shirt” means one shirt can be chosen, while “Neither shirt fits” means both shirts are unsuitable.
Either vs Neither: The Basic Difference
The simplest way to separate these two words is to think about choice versus rejection.
Either is used when one of two options is possible.
You can take either bus.
This means you can take one bus or the other.
Neither is used when both options are ruled out.
Neither bus goes to the airport.
This means both buses do not go to the airport.
Here is the basic rule:
| Word | Basic meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| either | one of two | Either answer is acceptable. |
| neither | not one and not the other | Neither answer is correct. |
So, if you are choosing between two options, either is usually the word you need. If both options are rejected, unavailable, or untrue, use neither.
Either: Meaning and Usage
Either can refer to one of two people or things. It is often used when both choices are possible.
For example:
- You can choose either color.
- Either answer could be right.
- Sit on either side.
- Either restaurant is fine with me.
- You can invite either friend.
Consider this sentence:
You can wear either jacket.
There are two jackets. The speaker says that one or the other can be worn.
Either can also mean “each of two”
In some contexts, either can refer to both sides or ends individually.
For example:
There are trees on either side of the road.
Here, either side refers to the two sides of the road. The meaning is close to each of the two sides.
This is different from a simple choice such as:
You can sit on either side.
In that sentence, the listener can choose one side.
Neither: Meaning and Usage
Neither means not either one of two. It tells us that both choices are excluded.
For example:
Neither answer is correct.
There are two answers, but neither one is correct.
More examples:
- Neither candidate won the vote.
- Neither option is suitable.
- Neither child wanted to leave.
- Neither restaurant is open.
- Neither explanation makes sense.
Think of it this way:
Either → one of two
Neither → zero of two
That simple idea can help you make the right choice quickly.
Either…Or: Giving Two Alternatives
The pair either…or is used to connect two alternatives.
The general pattern is:
either + option A + or + option B
Examples:
- You can either stay or leave.
- We can either walk or take a taxi.
- She will either call or send a message.
- Either Ali or Hamza will help us.
- You can either pay online or pay in cash.
The important point is that either…or gives a choice between alternatives.
For example:
You can either study at home or go to the library.
The sentence gives two possible actions. The person can choose one.
Either…or in everyday English
You will often hear this structure in normal conversation:
We can either order pizza or cook dinner.
You can either call me tonight or text me tomorrow.
She is either at work or at home.
Either John or Sarah will answer the phone.
It is useful in both casual and formal English.
Neither…Nor: Rejecting Both Alternatives
The pair neither…nor works in the opposite way.
The basic pattern is:
neither + option A + nor + option B
It means that both alternatives are negative or untrue.
Examples:
- Neither John nor David came.
- She likes neither tea nor coffee.
- Neither answer nor explanation was convincing.
- He can neither read nor write.
- Neither the manager nor the assistant knew about it.
Compare these two sentences:
You can either call me or email me.
This gives two choices.
You can neither call me nor email me.
This rules out both choices.
Therefore:
either…or = alternative
neither…nor = both alternatives are rejected
Either or Neither With “Of”
Both words can be used with of when you are talking about two people or things.
Either of
Either of + plural noun/pronoun means one of the two.
Examples:
- Either of them can help.
- Either of the books is useful.
- Either of us can drive.
- Either of these answers could be correct.
- Either of the candidates could win.
For example:
Either of the two plans could work.
This means one plan or the other could work.
Neither of
Neither of + plural noun/pronoun means not one and not the other.
Examples:
- Neither of them came.
- Neither of the books is useful.
- Neither of us knows the answer.
- Neither of these options is suitable.
- Neither of the candidates was selected.
For example:
Neither of the two plans will work.
This means both plans are unsuitable.
Either of Them vs Neither of Them
These expressions are common in everyday English and are easy to compare.
Either of them can drive.
One of the two people can drive.
Neither of them can drive.
Both people cannot drive.
More examples:
- Either of them would be a good choice.
- Neither of them is available.
- Either of them can answer the question.
- Neither of them knows the answer.
- Either of them could solve the problem.
- Neither of them could solve it.
The meaning changes completely when you replace either with neither.
Either and Neither as Determiners
Either and neither can come before a singular noun when referring to two people or things.
Examples with either:
- Either option is acceptable.
- Either answer could be correct.
- Either student can participate.
- Either road will take you there.
Examples with neither:
- Neither option is acceptable.
- Neither answer is correct.
- Neither student participated.
- Neither road leads to the village.
Notice that the noun after either or neither is normally singular:
either option
neither answer
either student
neither road
When you want to refer to the two choices as a group after of, use a plural noun:
either of the options
neither of the answers
Either and Neither as Pronouns
Sometimes either and neither stand alone instead of directly modifying a noun.
For example:
Which shirt should I buy?
Either is fine.
Here, either stands for one of the two shirts.
Now consider:
Which shirt fits you?
Neither does.
Here, neither stands for both shirts being unsuitable.
Other examples:
- Either will work.
- Neither will work.
- Either is acceptable.
- Neither is correct.
- I don’t want either.
- I want neither.
This use is common when the two choices have already been mentioned.
Is Either Singular or Plural?
When either is used directly with a singular noun, the noun and verb are generally singular.
Examples:
- Either answer is correct.
- Either option works for me.
- Either student has permission to leave.
- Either choice sounds reasonable.
With either of + plural noun, formal standard English generally uses a singular verb when either means one of the two:
Either of the answers is correct.
Either of the students is allowed to leave.
The idea is still one of the two.
Is Neither Singular or Plural?
Neither is generally treated as singular when it refers to one person or thing from a pair.
Examples:
- Neither answer is correct.
- Neither student was ready.
- Neither option works for me.
- Neither candidate has enough experience.
With neither of + plural noun, a singular verb is standard in formal English:
Neither of the answers is correct.
Neither of the students was present.
This is an important point for formal writing, exams, and professional English.
Either or Neither With Verbs
The verb pattern can become more important when either…or and neither…nor connect two subjects.
When both subjects are singular, use a singular verb.
Either my brother or my sister is coming.
Neither the manager nor the assistant was available.
When both subjects are plural, use a plural verb.
Either the teachers or the students are responsible.
Neither the parents nor the children were ready.
What if one subject is singular and the other is plural?
In standard usage, the verb generally agrees with the subject closest to it.
For example:
Either the manager or the employees are responsible.
The closest subject is employees, which is plural.
But:
Either the employees or the manager is responsible.
The closest subject is manager, which is singular.
The same pattern can apply with neither…nor:
Neither the teacher nor the students are ready.
Neither the students nor the teacher is ready.
For formal writing, keeping the two subjects in a balanced form can make these sentences easier to read.
Either vs Neither in Negative Sentences
One of the most confusing uses of either happens in negative sentences.
You can put either at the end of a negative sentence:
I don’t like coffee either.
This means the speaker also does not like coffee.
Another example:
I can’t swim either.
This means the speaker also cannot swim.
Compare:
I don’t understand the lesson.
I don’t understand it either.
Here, either adds agreement with another negative statement.
This is different from using neither at the beginning of a sentence:
Neither do I.
Both can express a similar idea, but their grammar is different.
“I Don’t Either” vs “Neither Do I”
These two structures are often used to agree with a negative statement.
I don’t either
Use either at the end of a negative sentence.
“I don’t like horror movies.”
“I don’t either.”
Neither do I
Use neither with an auxiliary verb.
“I don’t like horror movies.”
“Neither do I.”
Both responses mean that the second person also does not like horror movies.
The auxiliary verb changes according to the first sentence:
“I can’t swim.”
“Neither can I.”
“I haven’t finished.”
“Neither have I.”
“I wasn’t ready.”
“Neither was I.”
This is why neither do I cannot be used for every negative sentence. The auxiliary or verb pattern needs to match.
“Me Neither” or “Me Either”?
Me neither is a common informal response to a negative statement.
For example:
“I don’t like spicy food.”
“Me neither.”
It means:
“I don’t like spicy food either.”
You can also say:
“Neither do I.”
This is a more complete grammatical structure.
You may hear me either in informal American speech, but it is not the traditional standard response in careful English. For formal writing, neither do I or I don’t either is a better choice.
For example:
“I haven’t seen that movie.”
Good responses include:
“Neither have I.”
or:
“I haven’t either.”
Either or Neither Pronunciation
Both words have more than one widely accepted pronunciation.
Either
Either is commonly pronounced in two ways:
- EE-ther /ˈiːðər/
- EYE-ther /ˈaɪðər/
Neither
Neither is also commonly pronounced in two ways:
- NEE-ther /ˈniːðər/
- NYE-ther /ˈnaɪðər/
Both pronunciations are used in English. Choosing one pronunciation does not change the meaning or grammar of the word.
Common Mistakes With Either and Neither
“I don’t like neither”
❌ I don’t like neither option.
In standard English, this creates a double negative.
Better:
✅ I like neither option.
Or:
✅ I don’t like either option.
“Either option is not available”
If you mean that both options are unavailable, neither is clearer.
❌ Either option is not available.
✅ Neither option is available.
Mixing “either…or” and “neither…nor”
Keep the pairs together:
✅ Either John or Mark will come.
✅ Neither John nor Mark will come.
Avoid mixing the structures unless there is a specific reason.
Using “me either” after a positive sentence
If someone says:
“I love this movie.”
Say:
“Me too.”
If someone says:
“I don’t love this movie.”
You can say:
“Me neither.”
This simple distinction prevents a very common mistake.
Either and Neither in Everyday English
You will hear either and neither in everyday conversations, emails, messages, and workplace English. The meaning depends on whether you are presenting a choice or saying that both options are excluded.
In conversation
“Which one should I take?”
“Either one.”
This means both choices are possible, so the speaker does not care which one you choose.
Another example:
“Do you want tea or coffee?”
“Neither.”
This means the person wants neither option.
In the workplace
We can either meet today or tomorrow.
Neither proposal meets our requirements.
Either manager can approve the request.
Neither department has received the information.
In everyday writing
You can use either method.
Neither method worked.
I don’t want either one.
Neither of them answered my message.
These examples show how naturally either and neither appear in normal English.
Either and Neither Examples With Answers
Choose either or neither to complete each sentence.
- You can choose ___ of these two shirts.
- ___ answer is correct.
- We can ___ walk or take the train.
- ___ Sarah nor Emily attended the meeting.
- I don’t like this restaurant ___.
- “I can’t drive.” — “___ can I.”
- ___ of the two plans is suitable.
- You can sit on ___ side of the table.
- He likes ___ tea nor coffee.
- ___ of them knows the answer.
- You can ___ call me or send me a message.
- ___ option works for us.
Answers
- either
- neither
- either
- neither
- either
- Neither
- neither
- either
- neither
- neither
- either
- neither
The key is to look at the meaning. If one of two choices is possible, use either. If both are rejected, use neither.
Neither or Either Exercises
Try these sentences without looking at the answers first.
Exercise A: Choose Either or Neither
- ___ of my parents can attend the event.
- You may choose ___ answer.
- ___ answer explains the problem correctly.
- We can ___ stay here or go home.
- ___ Tom nor Jack knows about the change.
- I don’t want ___ of these shoes.
- ___ of us has enough time today.
- ___ road will take you to the station.
- She can ___ study online or attend the class.
- ___ of the restaurants is open.
Answers
- Either
- either
- Neither
- either
- Neither
- either
- Neither
- Either
- either
- Neither
Notice sentence 6:
I don’t want either of these shoes.
Here, either is correct because the sentence already contains don’t. It means the speaker does not want one shoe or the other.
You could also say:
I want neither of these shoes.
Both sentences express the same basic idea.
Which One Should You Use?
When you are unsure, ask yourself one simple question:
Am I allowing one of two choices, or am I rejecting both?
If you are allowing or choosing one:
Use either.
If you are rejecting both:
Use neither.
For example:
You can choose either dress.
One dress can be chosen.
You can choose neither dress.
Neither dress should be chosen.
The same idea works with longer structures:
Either John or Mark will come.
One of them will come.
Neither John nor Mark will come.
Both are excluded.
This simple test works in most everyday situations.
Either vs Neither in Questions
Both words can appear in questions, but they create different meanings.
Either in questions
Either can ask whether one of two options is possible.
Can either of you help me?
This asks whether one or the other person can help.
Another example:
Can either option work?
This asks whether one of the two options is suitable.
Neither in questions
Neither may be used when discussing two negative possibilities.
Neither of them called, did they?
However, in everyday questions, speakers often choose a different structure because it sounds more natural.
For learners, the most useful question pattern is:
Can either of you help?
This is a common and natural use of either.
Can Either Mean Both?
Usually, either means one of two, not both.
For example:
You can choose either cake.
This normally means you may choose one cake or the other.
However, either can have a different meaning in expressions such as:
There are trees on either side of the road.
Here, either side refers to both sides individually.
So context matters.
Compare:
You can sit on either side.
This gives a choice.
There are shops on either side.
This refers to both sides.
This is one reason the word either can sometimes seem confusing.
Can Neither Mean Both?
Neither does not mean “both.” It means not one and not the other.
For example:
Neither student passed.
This means the first student did not pass, and the second student did not pass.
It does not mean that both students passed.
A useful memory trick is:
- either = one of two
- neither = zero of two
- both = two of two
For example:
Either student can help. → One of the two can help.
Neither student can help. → Zero of the two can help.
Both students can help. → The two students can help.
Is “I Haven’t Either” Correct?
Yes. I haven’t either is correct when agreeing with a negative statement.
For example:
“I haven’t finished the report.”
“I haven’t either.”
The second speaker means:
“I haven’t finished the report either.”
You can also use neither:
“I haven’t finished the report.”
“Neither have I.”
Both are correct.
The difference is the sentence structure:
I haven’t either → negative sentence + either
Neither have I → neither + auxiliary verb + subject
“Neither Do I” vs “Me Neither”
Both can be used to agree with a negative statement, but they have different levels of formality.
Neither do I
This is a complete grammatical structure:
“I don’t eat meat.”
“Neither do I.”
Me neither
This is a shorter, informal conversational reply:
“I don’t eat meat.”
“Me neither.”
Both are natural, but neither do I is generally better for formal writing.
The same pattern applies to other auxiliary verbs:
- “I can’t swim.” → Neither can I.
- “I haven’t been there.” → Neither have I.
- “I wasn’t invited.” → Neither was I.
- “I don’t understand.” → Neither do I.
What Is Another Word for Neither?
There is no single replacement that works in every sentence, but several expressions can communicate a similar idea depending on the context.
Common alternatives include:
- not either
- not one or the other
- none of the two
- not this one or that one
For example:
Neither option is suitable.
You could say:
Not either option is suitable.
However, the second version is less natural. In most cases, neither is the clearest and most natural word.
That is why it is better to learn how neither works rather than trying to replace it with another expression.
Is “Neither” Grammatically Correct?
Yes. Neither is a standard English word and is grammatically correct when used in the right structure.
Examples:
- Neither answer is correct.
- Neither of them came.
- Neither John nor Mark attended.
- Neither do I.
- Neither option works.
The problem is usually not the word itself but the sentence structure around it.
For example:
❌ I don’t like neither.
✅ I like neither.
Or:
✅ I don’t like either.
Why Do Some Americans Say “Me Either”?
“Me either” can be heard in informal American English as a response to a negative statement.
For example:
“I don’t like that show.”
“Me either.”
It is a conversational form, but me neither is the more traditional standard response.
For careful or formal English, use:
Neither do I.
or:
I don’t either.
Therefore, if you are writing an essay, formal email, or academic text, avoid relying on me either.
Quick Comparison:
These words are easier to understand when compared with both.
| Expression | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| either | one of two | Either answer is acceptable. |
| neither | not one or the other | Neither answer is correct. |
| both | the two together | Both answers are correct. |
| either…or | one alternative | Either call or email me. |
| neither…nor | both alternatives rejected | Neither call nor email me. |
| both…and | two things together | Both John and Mary came. |
This comparison helps show that neither is not simply another word for both.
FAQs
1. When should I use either or neither?
Use either when you mean one of two choices. Use neither when you mean not one and not the other.
2. What is the difference between “either” and “neither”?
Either generally means one of two, while neither means not one and not the other.
3. When should I use either?
Use either when one of two choices is possible, acceptable, or available. For example, “Either answer is acceptable.”
4. Is “I don’t know either” correct?
Yes. I don’t know either is correct when agreeing with another negative statement. For example, “I don’t know either.”
5. Is it correct to say “me neither” or “me either”?
Me neither is the traditional standard informal response to a negative statement. Me either is also heard in informal American English.
6. Is it better to say “I don’t either” or “neither do I”?
Both are correct. Neither do I is a complete inverted structure, while I don’t either uses either at the end of a negative sentence.
7. Which is correct: “I can’t wait, me either” or “I can’t wait, me neither”?
If the first sentence is positive, me too is normally appropriate. If the intended meaning is agreement with a negative statement, me neither can be correct. The exact wording matters.
8. Is “I haven’t either” correct?
Yes. I haven’t either is correct when agreeing with a negative statement. You can also say Neither have I.
9. Is “neither” grammatically correct?
Yes. Neither is a standard English word. It can be used alone, before a noun, with of, or in the structure neither…nor.
10. Why do some Americans say “me either”?
Me either is used in some informal American speech as a response to a negative statement. For formal English, neither do I or I don’t either is clearer.
11. What is another word for “neither”?
There is no perfect replacement in every situation. Expressions such as not either or not one or the other may express a similar idea, but neither is usually the most natural choice.
12. Should you say “either” or “neither”?
It depends on your meaning. Choose either for one of two choices and neither when both choices are excluded.
Conclusion
The difference between either and neither becomes simple when you focus on the number of choices that remain. Either points to one of two possibilities, while neither excludes both.
The same idea carries into either…or and neither…nor: the first presents alternatives, while the second rejects both.
Remember these four patterns:
- either = one of two
- neither = not one and not the other
- either…or = two alternatives
- neither…nor = both alternatives rejected
Once these patterns become familiar, expressions such as either of them, neither of them, I don’t either, and neither do I become much easier to use correctly.
