When writing about current affairs, policy debates, or everyday events, accurate grammar ensures your message is clear and authoritative. A question that frequently confuses writers, journalists, and students alike is whether to use neither of them is or are in a sentence.

In standard formal English, “neither of them is” is the correct choice because the word neither functions as a singular pronoun meaning “not one.” However, in modern spoken English and informal contexts, you will often hear people say “neither of them are.” Understanding when to stick to the strict grammatical rule—and why the debate exists—will help you write with confidence across professional, academic, and media contexts.

Quick Reference: Singular vs. Plural Usage

The Core Grammar Rule Explained

To understand why “neither of them is” is grammatically correct in formal writing, we need to analyze how subject-verb agreement works in English.

1. Identifying the Real Subject

In the phrase “neither of them,” the word neither is the true subject of the sentence, not them.

• Neither means “not one nor the other” (referring to two people or things).
• Of them is a prepositional phrase modifying the pronoun neither.

Grammar rules state that the verb must agree with the subject, not with the pronoun inside a prepositional phrase. Because neither refers to “not one,” it takes a singular verb: is, has, or was.

$$\text{Neither} \quad (\text{Singular Subject}) + \text{of them} \quad (\text{Prepositional Phrase}) \longrightarrow \text{\textbf{is}} \quad (\text{Singular Verb})$$

2. The “Proximity” Trap

The reason many native speakers mistakenly use “are” is due to proximity. In the phrase “neither of them,” the plural pronoun them sits directly next to the verb. Our brains naturally want to match the verb to the word right before it (them are). However, ignoring the prepositional phrase reveals the actual core structure:

• Incorrect alignment (by proximity): Them are…
• Correct grammatical alignment: Neither [of them] is…

Regional Differences: US vs. UK English

While both American English and British English follow the singular rule in formal contexts, their tolerance for the plural form in casual contexts differs slightly.

• American English (US): Highly strict in professional and media publishing. Academic style guides (such as APA, Chicago, and MLA) and news outlets (such as the AP Stylebook) mandate “neither of them is.”
• British English (UK, AU, NZ, IE, CA): Formal writing, public broadcasting (such as the BBC), and quality news publications prefer “neither of them is.” However, British English descriptive grammar is slightly more forgiving of “neither of them are” in broad contexts when referring to a collective pair.

Step-by-Step Guide to Choosing the Right Verb

Follow this simple 3-step process whenever you write a sentence with neither of them:

1. Locate the pronoun structure: Identify whether you are using “neither of them.”
2. Remove the prepositional phrase: Cross out “of them” temporarily.
   • Draft: Neither of them [is / are] ready.
3. Test with “Not One”: Replace neither with not one.
   • Test: Not one is ready. (Correct)
   • Test: Not one are ready. (Incorrect)
4. Select your verb: Use is for standard, formal, media, and professional contexts.

Categorized Examples (80+ Practical Sentences)

To help you master this rule across all forms of communication, study the organized examples below.

1. Basic Examples

Short, direct sentences demonstrating standard subject-verb agreement.

1. Correct: Neither of them is ready for the presentation.
2. Correct: Neither of them has signed the agreement yet.
3. Correct: Neither of them was present at the morning brief.
4. Correct: Neither of them is willing to take the blame.
5. Correct: Neither of them works on weekends.
6. Correct: Neither of them knows the password to the account.
7. Correct: Neither of them is available today.
8. Correct: Neither of them wants to postpone the flight.
9. Correct: Neither of them is correct.
10. Correct: Neither of them seems interested in the proposal.

2. Intermediate Examples

Sentences with slightly more complex clauses and modifiers.

11. Correct: Neither of them is willing to accept responsibility for the administrative delay.
12. Correct: Although both candidates spoke well, neither of them is qualified for the role.
13. Correct: Neither of them has submitted the required tax documentation for this quarter.
14. Correct: We evaluated both software options, but neither of them meets our security standards.
15. Correct: Neither of them was aware of the sudden change in government policy.
16. Correct: Neither of them plans to attend the regional economic summit next week.
17. Correct: While both routes are scenic, neither of them is particularly fast.
18. Correct: Neither of them has shown any interest in renewing their lease agreement.
19. Correct: Neither of them is capable of managing the project independently.
20. Correct: Neither of them understands the long-term implications of the new regulation.

3. Advanced Examples (Current Affairs & Media Focus)

Contextualized for news reporting, political analysis, and formal commentary.

21. Correct: Both diplomatic envoys met yesterday, but neither of them is optimistic about reaching a ceasefire.
22. Correct: The committee reviewed both environmental draft bills, yet neither of them contains strict emission caps.
23. Correct: Two major political parties proposed tax reforms, but neither of them has gained public support.
24. Correct: Editors cross-checked the leaked documents, concluding that neither of them is authentic.
25. Correct: While both nations claim economic growth, neither of them is immune to global inflation.
26. Correct: The press secretary addressed two reports, stating that neither of them reflects official government policy.
27. Correct: Both defense contractors submitted proposals, but neither of them is within the allocated budget.
28. Correct: Investigators interviewed both key witnesses, but neither of them was able to confirm the timeline.
29. Correct: Neither of them is projected to win a majority in the upcoming parliamentary elections.
30. Correct: Central banks monitored two financial indicators, yet neither of them signals an immediate rate cut.

4. Daily Conversation Examples

How people speak in informal settings (noting strict vs. descriptive forms).

31. Strict Formal: Neither of them is answering the phone.
32. Informal Spoken: Neither of them are answering the phone. (Commonly heard in speech)
33. Strict Formal: Neither of them is going to the concert.
34. Informal Spoken: Neither of them are going to the concert.
35. Strict Formal: Neither of them likes spicy food.
36. Strict Formal: Neither of them has a car.
37. Strict Formal: Neither of them is home right now.
38. Strict Formal: Neither of them remembers where we parked.
39. Strict Formal: Neither of them is coming to dinner tonight.
40. Strict Formal: Neither of them wants to split the bill.

5. Academic Writing Examples

Formally styled for research papers, essays, and scholarly publications.

46. Correct: Neither of them offers a complete solution to urban traffic congestion.
47. Correct: The study analyzed two control groups, but neither of them showed significant variation.
48. Correct: Neither of them is supported by empirical evidence gathered during the trial.
49. Correct: Researchers examined both historical accounts, finding that neither of them is entirely reliable.
50. Correct: Neither of them has been peer-reviewed by independent field experts.

6. Business & Professional Writing Examples

Professional communication, reports, and corporate documentation.

51. Correct: Neither of them is authorized to sign official contracts on behalf of the firm.
52. Correct: We interviewed two senior developers, but neither of them has the required cloud experience.
53. Correct: Neither of them is willing to accept the revised severance offer.
54. Correct: Management reviewed both software vendors, but neither of them meets our compliance standards.
55. Correct: Neither of them was able to complete the audit before the Friday deadline.
56. Correct: Neither of them holds a active license to practice law in this jurisdiction.
57. Correct: Both branches requested additional funding, but neither of them has submitted a formal budget plan.
58. Correct: Neither of them is suitable for the regional manager position.
59. Correct: We tested both supply lines, and neither of them is capable of handling peak volume.
60. Correct: Neither of them agrees with the proposed operational restructuring.

7. Business Email Examples

Professional correspondence templates.

61. Correct: Thank you for sending the two proposals; however, neither of them is within our current budget.
62. Correct: I spoke with both team leads, but neither of them is free for a call at 3 PM.
63. Correct: Neither of them has replied to my follow-up email regarding the invoice.
64. Correct: Please review the attached draft agreements; neither of them is finalized yet.
65. Correct: Neither of them is able to attend tomorrow’s board meeting in person.
66. Correct: I looked into both vendor options, but neither of them provides the features we need.
67. Correct: Neither of them has confirmed their arrival time for the trade show.
68. Correct: Regarding the two candidate applications, neither of them meets our technical requirements.
69. Correct: Neither of them is currently available to take on new accounts.
70. Correct: I checked both conference rooms, but neither of them is equipped with a projector.

8. Student & ESL Learner Focused Examples

Sentences illustrating clear structures for language tests like TOEFL, IELTS, and SAT.

71. Correct: Neither of them is (not are) going to the library.
72. Correct: Neither of my brothers is (not are) a doctor.
73. Correct: Neither of those answers is (not are) correct.
74. Correct: Neither of them has (not have) finished the exam.
75. Correct: Neither of these books belongs (not belong) to the teacher.
76. Correct: Neither of them was (not were) late for class.
77. Correct: Neither of the two options is (not are) easy to choose.
78. Correct: Neither of them knows (not know) how to solve the math problem.
79. Correct: Neither of the smartphones is (not are) working properly.
80. Correct: Neither of them is (not are) ready to take the test.

Common Mistakes and How to Correct Them

Here is a side-by-side comparison of common grammatical errors involving “neither of them” along with corrections.

Quick Memory Tricks

To avoid making this mistake in formal writing or journalism, use these mental shortcuts:

1. The “Not One” Substitution: Whenever you see “neither of them,” mentally swap it with “not one of them.”
   • Not one of them is ready. (Makes immediate sense!)
   • Not one of them are ready. (Sounds incorrect.)
2. Cover Up “Of Them”: Put your finger over the phrase “of them.”
   • Neither is standard. (Correct)
   • Neither are standard. (Incorrect)

Interactive Practice Section

Exercise 1: Choose the Correct Verb

Select the correct verb to complete each sentence.

1. Neither of them (is / are) willing to sign the revised contract.
2. Neither of the two political candidates (has / have) addressed the budget deficit.
3. Neither of them (was / were) present when the decision was announced.
4. Neither of these news reports (gives / give) an accurate picture of the event.
5. Neither of them (seems / seem) qualified for the position.

Exercise 2: Sentence Correction

Identify and fix the subject-verb agreement error in each sentence.

1. Neither of them are participating in the international panel discussion.
2. We reviewed two diplomatic proposals, but neither of them were accepted.
3. Neither of them have responded to the press inquiries.

5-Question Quiz

Test your knowledge with these five questions based on professional standard English rules.

1. Which sentence follows standard formal English rules?

• A) Neither of them are attending the summit.
• B) Neither of them is attending the summit.
• C) Neither of them were attending the summit.
• D) Neither of them have attended the summit.

2. Complete the sentence: “Neither of the proposed bills ______ passed by Parliament.”

• A) were
• B) have been
• C) has been
• D) are

3. Why does “neither of them” take a singular verb in formal writing?

• A) Because “them” is a singular pronoun.
• B) Because “neither” is the singular head subject meaning “not one.”
• C) Because prepositional phrases always take singular verbs.
• D) Because “of” forces the sentence to become plural.

4. In which context is “Neither of them are…” widely tolerated?

• A) Academic research dissertations
• B) Formal legal briefs
• C) Casual spoken conversation
• D) Standardized language testing (IELTS/TOEFL)

5. Choose the correctly written news headline:

• A) Two Envoys Meet, But Neither of Them Are Confident
• B) Two Envoys Meet, But Neither of Them Is Confident
• C) Two Envoys Meet, But Neither of Them Have Confidence
• D) Two Envoys Meet, But Neither of Them Were Confident

Answer Key

1. B — In formal writing, “neither of them” requires the singular verb is.
2. C — “Has been” maintains the required singular agreement with “neither.”
3. B — “Neither” acts as the true singular subject (“not one”), while “of them” is an modifying prepositional phrase.
4. C — Informal spoken dialogue often accepts plural verbs by proximity, though singular remains standard in formal contexts.
5. B — Standard news publishing requires singular subject-verb agreement (is).

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Neither of Them Is or Are

1. Is “neither of them are” ever considered correct?

In informal speech and casual writing, “neither of them are” is widely used and understood. However, in formal contexts—such as academic papers, news reporting, business correspondence, and standardized exams—it is considered grammatically incorrect. Always stick to “is” for formal writing.

2. Does American English differ from British English regarding this rule?

Both American and British formal style guides prefer “neither of them is.” However, British spoken English tends to accept plural verb forms (“neither of them are”) slightly more readily than American English in casual conversation.

3. What verb form should I use with “neither… nor”?

When using “neither… nor,” the verb agrees with the subject closest to the verb.

• Example: “Neither the director nor the executives were present.”
• Example: “Neither the executives nor the director was present.”

4. How does this rule apply to exams like IELTS, TOEFL, or SAT?

Standardized English exams strictly test prescriptive grammar rules. You must always select the singular verb (is, has, was) when taking these tests. Using a plural verb with “neither of them” will result in a lost point.

5. Can I use “neither of them” when referring to three or more people?

Traditionally, neither is used for two people or things. When referring to three or more items or individuals, use “none of them” instead.

• Two items: Neither of them is working.
• Three or more items: None of them is (or are) working.

Conclusion on Neither of Them Is or Are

Choosing between “neither of them is” and “neither of them are” comes down to knowing your audience and context. In formal writing, current affairs reporting, academic papers, and professional emails, always treat neither as a singular subject requiring is, was, or has. Keep the prepositional phrase “of them” from tricking your ear into using a plural verb!

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Disclaimer

This article provides educational guidance on standard English grammar rules based on conventional style guides (including AP, APA, and Chicago). Language usage can evolve over time, and regional informal variations exist.

Also READ: Few vs A Few: Key Differences with Clear Examples

Each vs Every: Key Differences, Rules, and Examples

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