Quick answer: Use “me neither” to agree with a negative statement (e.g., “I don’t like spinach” → “Me neither”). Use “me either” only in very specific, rare contexts involving double negatives or informal emphasis, but in standard English, “me either” is almost always incorrect when you mean to agree with a negative. If someone says, “I can’t swim,” the correct casual response is “Me neither.”
We have all been there. A friend complains, “I didn’t sleep well last night,” and you want to chime in with your own shared misery. Do you say, “Me neither”? Or do you hesitate, wondering if “me either” sounds smarter? This confusion is one of the most common pitfalls in casual English conversation. As an editor who has corrected thousands of manuscripts, I can tell you that getting this wrong doesn’t just sound awkward—it signals a lack of grammatical precision that can undermine your credibility in professional settings. Let’s clear up the confusion once and for all.
| Term | Meaning / When to use | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Me neither | Used to agree with a negative statement. It is the standard, grammatically accepted casual form of “Neither do I.” | Person A: “I don’t eat meat.”<br>Person B: “Me neither.” |
| Me either | Generally incorrect in standard English when agreeing with negatives. It is sometimes used in informal dialects or specific double-negative constructions, but it should be avoided in formal writing. | Person A: “I haven’t seen that movie.”<br>Person B: “Me neither.” (Not “Me either”) |
When to use “me neither”
“Me neither” is your go-to phrase when you want to agree with someone who has just made a negative statement. In formal grammar, the proper response would be “Neither do I” or “Nor do I.” However, in spoken English and casual writing, “me neither” has become the standard idiomatic expression.
The logic here is straightforward. The word “neither” itself carries a negative meaning. According to Wikipedia, “neither” is used to indicate that two things are not true or not applicable. When you say “me neither,” you are essentially saying, “The same negative condition applies to me.”
Here are three real-world examples where “me neither” is the correct choice:
- In a job interview context: If the interviewer says, “We don’t require candidates to have a master’s degree,” and you want to confirm that you also do not have one (but that’s okay), you might think, “Me neither.” However, in this formal setting, you would likely say, “I don’t have one either,” which brings us to the next section. But in casual chat with a colleague afterward, you’d say, “He said they don’t require a master’s.” Your colleague replies, “Oh, good. Me neither.”
- In a text message: Your friend texts, “I can’t believe it’s already Wednesday.” You reply, “Me neither. This week is flying by.” Note that while “can’t believe” is technically negative, the sentiment is often treated as an exclamation. A clearer negative example: Friend: “I didn’t get the promotion.” You: “Oh no! Me neither. I’m still waiting to hear back.”
- In an email to a friend: “You mentioned you don’t like horror movies. Me neither! I prefer comedies.”
The key takeaway is that “me neither” acts as a shorthand for “I also do not [verb].” It is concise, widely understood, and grammatically defensible in informal contexts.
When to use “me either”
Here is the hard truth: In standard American and British English, “me either” is incorrect when used as a standalone response to a negative statement. If someone says, “I don’t like coffee,” and you respond with “Me either,” you are making a grammatical error.
Why is it wrong? Because “either” is used in negative sentences to add another negative idea, but it requires a different sentence structure. For example, “I don’t like coffee, and I don’t like tea either.” Notice that “either” comes at the end of a clause that already contains a negative verb (“don’t like”). It cannot stand alone as a subject-object fragment like “me either.”
However, there are nuanced exceptions where “either” appears in similar contexts, which causes the confusion:
Formal Agreement with Negatives: Instead of “me neither,” you can say, “I don’t either.” This is grammatically correct because it includes the verb. For example:
- Person A: “I haven’t finished the report.”
- Person B: “I haven’t either.” (Correct)
- Person B: “Me neither.” (Correct, informal)
- Person B: “Me either.” (Incorrect)
Double Negatives in Informal Dialects: In some regional dialects or very informal speech, people may say “I don’t like it neither” or “I don’t like it either.” While “I don’t like it either” is standard, “I don’t like it neither” is considered non-standard. The phrase “me either” sometimes slips out in these dialects, but it is not accepted in professional writing. As noted in linguistic discussions on Wikipedia, “either” functions as a conjunction or adverb, not as a standalone pronoun substitute in this way.
Let’s look at concrete examples of how to fix the “me either” error:
- Resume/Cover Letter Mistake: Imagine you are writing a cover letter and you write, “I see that your company does not tolerate late submissions. Me either, I always submit early.” This is jarring and incorrect.
- Fix: “I understand that your company does not tolerate late submissions. I share this value and always submit my work early.” Or, more casually, “I don’t tolerate late submissions either.”
- Social Media Comment: Someone posts, “I’m not going to the party tonight.” You comment, “Me either!”
- Fix: Change it to “Me neither!” or “I’m not going either.”
- Workplace Chat: A teammate says, “I don’t have access to the shared drive.” You reply, “Me either.”
- Fix: Reply with “Me neither” or “I don’t have access either.”
How to remember the difference
If you struggle to keep these straight, here is a simple mnemonic that I use with my editing clients:
“Neither” has “N” for “No.”
When you are saying “No” to something (agreeing with a negative), use the word with the “N” in it: Neither.
- Statement: “I do not like rain.”
- Response: “Me neither.”
Think of it as a double negative reinforcement. The original statement is negative (“not”), and your agreement is also negative (“neither”). Two negatives make a positive agreement in meaning, but they both carry the “no” weight.
Another trick is to expand the phrase in your head before you speak or type:
- If you can expand it to “Neither do I,” use “Me neither.”
- If you can expand it to “I don’t either,” use “I don’t either.”
- Never expand it to “Either do I” (which is nonsense) or “Me either” (which is incomplete).
Common mistakes and exceptions
Even native speakers stumble here. Let’s address the most frequent errors and edge cases.
1. The “Too” Confusion
People often mix up “too,” “either,” and “neither.”
- Use “too” for positive agreement.
- “I love pizza.” → “Me too.”
- Use “neither” (or “either” with a verb) for negative agreement.
- “I don’t love pizza.” → “Me neither.” OR “I don’t either.”
2. Formal vs. Informal Contexts
In formal writing, avoid “me neither” entirely. It is considered colloquial. Instead, use:
- “Neither do I.”
- “Nor do I.”
- “I also do not [verb].”
For example, in a legal document or academic paper, never write “Me neither.” Write, “The author does not support this claim, nor do I.”
3. Regional Variations
In some parts of the United States and in certain dialects of English, you may hear “me either” used interchangeably with “me neither.” While language is descriptive and evolves, in standardized tests, professional communications, and global business English, “me neither” is the accepted standard for casual negative agreement. Stick to “me neither” to ensure you are understood correctly by all audiences.
4. The “Either/Or” Trap
Do not confuse this with the conjunction “either… or.” That is a completely different grammatical structure used to present choices.
- Correct: “You can have either coffee or tea.”
- Incorrect: “You can have neither coffee or tea.” (Should be “neither coffee nor tea”).
This article focuses on the conversational response, but remember that “either” and “neither” have other roles. When in doubt about the conjunction form, recall that “neither” pairs with “nor,” and “either” pairs with “or.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Is “me either” ever correct? In standard English, no. It is occasionally heard in informal dialects, but it is widely regarded as grammatically incorrect. Always use “me neither” or “I don’t either” instead.
Can I use “me neither” in professional emails? It is best to avoid it in formal professional emails. Use “I do not either” or “Neither do I” for a more polished tone. Save “me neither” for casual chats with colleagues you know well.
What is the difference between “me too” and “me neither”? “Me too” is used to agree with a positive statement (e.g., “I am happy” → “Me too”). “Me neither” is used to agree with a negative statement (e.g., “I am not happy” → “Me neither”).
Why do people say “me either” if it’s wrong? Language is often influenced by analogy. Since “me too” is used for positives, some speakers incorrectly assume “me either” works for negatives because “either” is associated with negative sentences (e.g., “I don’t like it either”). However, “either” requires a verb to function correctly in that context, whereas “neither” can stand alone in the fragment “me neither.”
Nathan Williams is a seasoned editor and writer with a passion for the subtleties of the English language. With a degree in English from NYU and more than 12 years of editorial experience, he has honed his expertise in spelling accuracy and the comparison of often-misused words. Nathan’s foray into language analysis was sparked by his desire to help others communicate more effectively and avoid common pitfalls in writing. At WordCompareHub, he crafts comprehensive guides and articles that discuss word usage distinctions and provide effective spelling strategies. Nathan is driven by the belief that clarity in language is key to effective communication. In his leisure time, he enjoys crosswords and participates in local word games, continually expanding his lexicon and sharpening his linguistic skills.