How to Distinguish Either and Neither?

Either and neither are two words that sound similar but have different meanings and uses. They are often confused by many people, especially when writing something quickly like an email or text. In this blog post, we will explain the difference between either and neither, how to use them correctly, and some common mistakes to avoid.

What is the main difference between either and neither?

Either and neither are used to talk about two things of the same kind. Either means one or the other of two alternatives, while neither means none of the two. Either and neither can be used as determiners before a singular noun. Neither is a negative marker and does not need a negative verb. Either and neither can also be used with or and nor to separate the two choices.

Either Meaning

Either means one or the other of two people or things. It can also mean each of two.

Either Examples

• You can have either chocolate or vanilla ice cream.
• There are two doors. You can enter through either one.
• He speaks either English or French.

Neither Meaning

Neither means not one or the other of two people or things. It can also mean not any.

Neither Examples

• I like neither chocolate nor vanilla ice cream.
• There are two doors. I will enter through neither one.
• He speaks neither English nor French.

Either and Neither Examples

Here are some more examples of how to use either and neither in sentences:

• Either John or Mary will come to the party.
• Neither John nor Mary came to the party.
• You can wear either this dress or that skirt.
• I like neither this dress nor that skirt.
• Either of these books is good.
• Neither of these books is interesting.

Either and Neither Difference

The main difference between either and neither is that either is positive and neither is negative. Either implies a choice or a possibility, while neither implies a lack of choice or a possibility. Either can also indicate a similarity or a link, while neither can indicate a contrast or a difference.

How to use either and neither?

Either and neither can be used as different parts of speech, such as adverbs, conjunctions, determiners, or pronouns. Depending on their function, they have different rules and structures.

Either Definition

As an adverb, either is used to show a similarity or a link. It usually comes at the end of a sentence or clause.

• I don’t like chocolate ice cream either.
• She doesn’t speak French either.

As a conjunction, either is used with or to indicate choices or possibilities. It can also be used to suggest that there is more than one possibility or comparison.

• I would love to go to either the concert or the party tomorrow night.
• You can use either blue paint or red paint.
• She will buy either some apples or some oranges.

As a determiner, either is used before a singular noun to mean one or the other of two people or things. It can also mean each of two.

• Either drink is fine. I like both kinds.
• We could go to either restaurant.
• Julie might buy either t-shirt.

As a pronoun, either is used without a noun to mean one or the other of two people or things that have already been mentioned or implied. It can also mean each of two.

• Which drink would you like? Either is fine.
• Which cake do you want? Either!
• They both have cars, but I don’t like either.

Neither Definition

As an adverb, neither is used before the first of two choices to indicate that they are untrue or won’t occur. It can also be used to emphasize a negative statement.

• We can neither confirm nor deny the allegations.
• He likes neither coffee nor tea in the morning.
• She has neither money nor friends.

As a conjunction, neither is used with nor to mean that something is not true about two or more things, actions, or people. Another way of saying this is that it is used conjunctionally to negate another statement.

• Neither the concert nor the party interests me.
• He can speak neither English nor French.
• She likes neither this dress nor that skirt.

As a determiner, neither is used before a singular noun to mean not one or the other of two people or things. It can also mean not any.

• Neither drink is fine. John hates both of them.
• Neither restaurant is good. Let’s go somewhere else.
• Julie will buy neither t-shirt. She doesn’t like them.

As a pronoun, neither is used without a noun to mean not one or the other of two people or things that have already been mentioned or implied. It can also mean not any.

• Is this phone yours? No, neither is mine.
• This book is mine, and that one is yours. Neither is interesting.
• I don’t like your style, and neither do you.

What is the rule of either and nor?

The rule of either and nor is that they should not be used together. Either is used with or, while neither is used with nor. Using either and nor together is a common mistake that creates confusion and illogical sentences.

• Incorrect: I don’t like either coffee nor tea.
• Correct: I don’t like either coffee or tea.
• Correct: I like neither coffee nor tea.

What is an example with neither nor and either or?

An example with neither nor and either or is:

• She likes neither cats nor dogs. (She doesn’t like cats and she doesn’t like dogs.)
• She likes either cats or dogs. (She likes cats or she likes dogs.)

What is the difference between neither and nither?

Neither and nither are pronounced differently, but they have the same meaning and spelling. Neither is pronounced with a long e sound, as in ee-ther, while nither is pronounced with a short i sound, as in i-ther. The pronunciation of neither depends on the dialect and accent of the speaker. In American English, neither is usually pronounced with a long e sound, while in British English, neither is usually pronounced with a short i sound.

Either or neither nor

Either or and neither nor are two pairs of words that are used to express choices or alternatives. Either or is used to indicate a positive choice between two or more options, while neither nor is used to indicate a negative choice between two or more options.

Either or neither nor examples

Here are some examples of how to use either or and neither nor in sentences:

• You can have either pizza or pasta for dinner.
• You can have neither pizza nor pasta for dinner.
• Either you study hard or you fail the exam.
• Neither you study hard nor you pass the exam.
• He will go to either Spain or Italy for vacation.
• He will go to neither Spain nor Italy for vacation.

I don’t have it either or neither

I don’t have it either and I don’t have it neither are both grammatically incorrect sentences. The correct way to say this is:

• I don’t have it either. (This means that someone else also doesn’t have it.)
• I have it neither. (This means that I don’t have it and also something else.)

Remember to always check your writing for spelling and grammar mistakes, and use the trick of replacing the word with you are if you are not sure. Thank you for reading!