Neither vs Nither
What’s the difference between them?
Neither
Meaning:
Neither means not either; not one or the other; not one and not the other.
Examples:
1. Neither of us had the correct answer.
2. Neither of us knew what to do next.
3. Neither of us had any idea what was happening.
Nither
Meaning:
This word does not exist in the English language.
Examples:
no examples
Learn similar and opposite words to spot the difference
Synonyms
Antonyms
Neither
1. Not either
2. Not at all
3. Deny
4. Naught
5. Negative
1. Both
2. Either
3. Both ways
4. All
5. Each and every one
Nither
This word doesn't exist, so there are no synonyms for it.
This word doesn't exist, so there are no antonyms for it.
Tricks for mastery
Useful tips to understand the difference between confusing words "Neither", "Nither".
1. The word 'neither' is an indefinite pronoun that means not either one of two things. It is used when two mutually exclusive choices or options are presented.
2. In contrast, 'nither' is not a real word and is an example of a malapropism or misused word.
3. The spelling of 'neither' is not interchangeable with 'nither'.
Practice English with the Promova app and avoid misusing confusing words
Frequently asked questions
In what situations should the first word be used?
The word 'neither' is used to denote the lack of both of two things, or to give a negative answer to an either/or question. For example, 'Do you want tea or coffee?' 'I don’t want either, I’ll have water.' or 'Neither of us can go to the party tonight.'
When is the appropriate context for using the second word?
The word 'nither' is not a real word and should not be used in any context.
Do the two words share the same pronunciation?
No. The word 'neither' is pronounced 'nee-ther' while 'nither' is not pronounced at all, as it is not a real word.
What are some common mistakes people make when using these words?
The most common mistake people make is confusing the two words. Since they sound similar and both typically appear in similar contexts, it can be easy to mix them up and mistakenly use 'nither' instead of 'neither'. Another mistake is using 'neither' in a positive context. 'Neither' implies negation or lack, so it should only be used to deny something or to express the lack of two options.
Fill in the gaps to check yourself
1. I cant go to the movies this weekend because I have __ money.
2. We have __ choice but to accept the terms of the agreement.
3. __ of the cars is in good condition.
4. I dont understand this problem - __ the solutions make sense.
5. __ one of us knows how to fix the computer.
6. We were __ successful in finding a solution to the problem.
1. Neither
Explanation: This is the correct word choice because the speaker is referring to the lack of a presence of money, which is a negative statement.
2. Neither
Explanation: This is the correct word choice because the speaker is referring to the lack of a choice, which is a negative statement.
3. Neither
Explanation: This is the correct word choice because the speaker is referring to the lack of a presence of a good condition car, which is a negative statement.
4. Neither
Explanation: This is the correct word choice because the speaker is referring to the lack of understanding of the problem, which is a negative statement.
5. Neither
Explanation: This is the correct word choice because the speaker is referring to the lack of knowledge on how to fix the computer, which is a negative statement.
6. Neither
Explanation: This is the correct word choice because the speaker is referring to the lack of success in finding a solution to the problem, which is a negative statement.
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List of Commonly Confused Words
Finding your way around the English language can be hard, especially since there are so many confusing words and rules. So, a list of the most confusing words in English is an extremely useful tool for improving language accuracy and sharing the ideas clearly.