a first pair of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a first pair of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the initial set of items or objects in a series or collection. Example: "She decided to buy a first pair of shoes for her new job."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

There have been discs of late Beethoven – the Diabelli Variations and the Op 126 Bagatelles – and, two years ago, a first pair of Schubert sonatas, in G major and B flat, D894 and D960.

The Guardian - Music

This can also be tackled by a two-phase strategy: a first pair of signals could be used to estimate an initial DOA, the audio acquisition system could then rotate briefly, and then another pair of signals could be acquired to estimate a second DOA.

EURASIP Journal on Audio, Speech, and Music Processing

Adults of spring populations have large compound eyes with about 40 ommatidia, a first pair of antennae at about 45-50% of body length, brownish body pigmentation, and males reach sexual maturity at 6 9 mm body length.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

During chromosome dimer resolution, this futile recombination cycle is broken by a cell division protein, FtsK, which triggers the exchange of a first pair of strands by XerD-catalysis.

EMBO Journal

As the quality of DNA obtained from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tumour tissue affects the success rate of MSP, in some cases MGMT methylation status was determined by a different nested-MSP approach, with a first pair of primers to obtain smaller amplicons (129 bp), for which forward and reverse primers have been described (Palmisano et al, 2000; van Engeland et al, 2003).

British Journal of Cancer

For a first pair of shoes, it is wiser to wait to adjust the drawstrings until you have danced in them first.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Should it include a second pair of turn signals?

The New York Times

The much larger mesothorax bears the second pair of legs, a second pair of spiracles, and the pair of forewings.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The waitlists should be treated only as a second pair of eyes.

Harvard University

A second pair of glands secretes sericin, a gummy substance that cements the two filaments together.

Britannica

She is more like a trusted partner, a second pair of eyes.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a first pair of", ensure the context clearly indicates that this is the beginning of a sequence or a selection from a larger group. This clarifies the significance of this specific pair.

Common error

Avoid using "a first pair of" when simply introducing two items without needing to emphasize their sequential or initial nature. If there is no implication of a larger set or sequence, using just "a pair of" is more concise and natural.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a first pair of" functions as a determiner phrase specifying an initial set of two items. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's grammatically correct and is used to denote the beginning of a sequence or selection. The examples show its use across different contexts, from describing Schubert sonatas to antennae in biology.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

33%

Wiki

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a first pair of" is grammatically sound and serves to identify the initial set of two items in a sequence or selection. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability across various contexts. While the phrase appears most frequently in scientific and news-related articles, it maintains a neutral register suitable for diverse audiences. When using "a first pair of", ensure the context clearly establishes that this is the beginning of a sequence to avoid redundancy. Alternatives like "an initial duo" or "the original twosome" can be used to add variety, depending on the context. The usage patterns indicate that it is an uncommon phrase but can be successfully integrated into academic, journalistic, and general writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

initial duo

Replaces 'pair' with 'duo' and 'first' with 'initial', emphasizing the twosome aspect and the start.

maiden couple

Uses 'maiden' to signify the first instance and 'couple' as a synonym for 'pair'.

original twosome

Replaces 'pair' with 'twosome' and 'first' with 'original' stressing the initial nature of the two.

premier brace

Uses 'premier' to mean first in importance or sequence and 'brace' as a synonym for pair.

inaugural set

Substitutes 'first' with 'inaugural' and uses 'set' to indicate a collection of two.

opening dyad

Replaces "pair" with "dyad" and "first" with "opening", indicating the initial nature of the two.

starting couple

Substitutes 'first' with 'starting', highlighting the commencement of something with a pair.

primary duet

Replaces "pair" with "duet" and "first" with "primary", emphasizing the initial nature of the two.

earliest double

Replaces "pair" with "double" and "first" with "earliest", indicating the initial nature of the two.

initial match

Emphasizes the correspondence or similarity between the two, being the first.

FAQs

How can I use "a first pair of" in a sentence?

You can use "a first pair of" to refer to the initial set of two items in a sequence or collection. For example, "She bought "a first pair of" pointe shoes for her ballet class".

What's the difference between "a first pair of" and "a second pair of"?

"A first pair of" refers to the initial set of two items, while "a second pair of" refers to the subsequent set of two, implying a sequence or comparison.

Is it always necessary to specify "a first pair of" instead of just "a pair of"?

No, it's not always necessary. Use "a first pair of" when it's important to emphasize that it's the beginning or the first in a series. If the sequence isn't relevant, "a pair of" is sufficient.

What can I say instead of "a first pair of"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "an initial duo", "the original twosome", or "the opening dyad".