neither do I vs. I do neither

navi tasan

Key Member
Joined
Nov 19, 2002
Member Type
Academic
Native Language
Persian
Home Country
Iran
Current Location
United States
1) John doesn't smoke. I do neither.

Is that correct?

I say 'neither do I' or 'nor do I'. I feel 'I do neither' is incorrect here. But I have doubts.
 
1) John doesn't smoke. I do neither.

Is that correct?

I say 'neither do I' or 'nor do I'. I feel 'I do neither' is incorrect here. But I have doubts.
In my opinion, "I do neither" makes no sense there, though "I don't, either" would be perfectly fine:

1') John doesn't smoke. I don't, either.

"I do neither" needs to be set up differently in order to work. For example:

2) John does gardening and landscaping. I do neither.

There, "I do neither" is short for "I do neither of those things" / "I do neither gardening nor landscaping."
 
Illogical though it is, AmE often uses "I don't either". Personally I use "Nor (or neither) do I".
 

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