Writer’s trick: If you get stuck on a grammar or style issue, sometimes the smart thing to do is just find another way to write it.

Example: Say you’re writing about two unhealthy options, and you find yourself stuck when you write “Neither….” Should it be “Neither are healthy?” or “Neither is healthy?”

You can do some research. Google is usually very helpful here — your search phrase could simply be “is it neither is or neither are?”

But sometimes the answer doesn’t jump right out at you. And sometimes you’ll find several seemingly credible sources, each giving conflicting answers.

If you’re not sure, and you don’t want to write it incorrectly, maybe the best thing to do is to write, “Both of these choices are unhealthy.” Problem solved.

(It’s “neither is,” by the way. “Neither” calls for a singular.)