a half pair

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'a half pair' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something which is only partially complete. For example, "She bought a half pair of shoes, as the other one was too expensive."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

"For £260 I could buy 32 and a half pairs of Decathlon's finest!," screamed another.

The Guardian

The icon chart in "Makansutra" translates two and a half pairs of chopsticks — one notch below the top — as "Divine".

The New Yorker

(He quoted a rap song by KRS-One in which a kid is forced to share three pairs of pants with his brother and learns that "with one and a half pairs of pants, you ain't cool").

The New York Times - Magazine

Cells knocked down for eEF1A1 showed half (pair A) or third (pair B) of the intensity of transcription per cell.

eLife

Their average orders are around $350 right now (about one pair of decently hyped sneakers, two pairs of mildly hot sneakers or a half a pair of Yeezys).

TechCrunch

She points to a single shelf that holds a half dozen pair.

Huffington Post

This year they expect to sell three & a half million pairs.

The New Yorker

Two and a half million pairs of Adélie penguins still breed throughout the continent, and some Adélie populations in colder Antarctic regions are actually growing.

The New Yorker

I personally own a half dozen pairs of its glasses and sunglasses.

TechCrunch

PSD scores for more than one and a half million pairs of proteins were calculated and compared to the discrete classification of proteins in the SCOP database.

Journal of Molecular Biology

Choose a half sandwich paired with a broth-based soup.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a half pair", ensure the context clearly indicates what the pair is supposed to be. This avoids ambiguity and ensures the reader understands that one item is missing or incomplete.

Common error

Avoid using "a half pair" when you mean "a pair and a half". The former indicates incompleteness, while the latter implies having one full pair plus an additional single item. Be accurate about whether you're missing an item or have extras.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a half pair" functions as a noun phrase, typically acting as the subject or object of a sentence. It describes something incomplete, specifically one item of what should be a matching set of two. Ludwig AI confirms its usage, though infrequent.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Wiki

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a half pair" is a grammatically correct phrase used to denote an incomplete set of two items. While Ludwig AI validates its existence, it remains relatively rare in common usage. It's most often seen in news, science and wiki-based sources, where clarity and precision are valued. When using the phrase, ensure that the intended pair is evident to avoid ambiguity and specify incompleteness. Remember, "a half pair" is not the same as "a pair and a half", so choose your words carefully.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a partial pair

Replaces "half" with "partial", emphasizing the incomplete nature of the pair.

one half of a pair

Rephrases to explicitly state the concept of being one part of a pair.

incomplete pair

Focuses on the lack of completeness within the pairing.

a broken pair

Suggests the pair is not functional because it is missing half.

a single item from a pair

Highlights the isolation of one item that should belong to a set of two.

one of a matching set

Emphasizes that it's part of something designed to be together, but is not whole.

a mismatched set

Shifts the focus to an incompatibility or lack of belonging.

an unpaired item

Stresses the lack of a partner item.

a sole item

Highlights that there is only a single piece present.

an unmatched piece

Implies that there's a counterpart missing.

FAQs

How can I use "a half pair" in a sentence?

You can use "a half pair" to describe an item that is missing its counterpart, such as "He only found "a half pair" of socks in the drawer".

What is the difference between "a half pair" and "a pair and a half"?

"A half pair" refers to a single item that belongs to a set of two, meaning it is incomplete. "A pair and a half" means there are three items, or one complete pair plus an additional single item.

Are there synonyms for "a half pair"?

Yes, you can use phrases like "incomplete pair" or "partial pair" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it always grammatically correct to use "a half pair"?

Yes, it's grammatically correct; however, ensure the context makes the meaning clear. It's best used when the expected complete pair is already understood.