a pair of blocks

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a pair of blocks" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to two blocks that are considered together as a unit, often in contexts like construction, games, or educational materials. Example: "The children played with a pair of blocks to build a small tower."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

A pair of blocks by Kobe Bryant denied James late in the game as the Eastern Conference tried to eat into the West's lead.

The Guardian - Sport

We also provide an analytical proof of the D-optimality when there exist a pair of blocks of odd size and remaining blocks are of even size.

Computational Statistics & Data Analysis

I originally had LINKED at 3-Down, which stayed in there for a while until I realized I could knock out a pair of blocks and extend it to LINKEDIN PROFILE.

The New York Times

While Stockton and Malone both rested, Kirilenko and Ostertag combined for 7 points and a pair of blocks and steals in a 13-4 run that put Utah ahead by 86-73 with 6 17 to play.

The New York Times - Sports

Kansas' Jeff Withey has been an early bright spot for the Jayhawks, with a couple of strong finishes at the rim and a pair of blocks on the other end.

The New York Times

Stephenson added five points on three kills and a pair of blocks, as the Engineers extended the lead to 22-9, and Kwinn promptly picked up two digs and a kill on her first three touches as Tech cruised to victory.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

In the bag faces, the demi-guls that appear may contain a pair of block-bodied birds facing a conventionalized tree.

Britannica

By Sheila Hibben The New Yorker, February 13 , 1960P. 112 David H. Engel, a young American architect, in collaboration with Bye & Herrmann, a firm of landscape architects in Rye, has designed a pair of block-long gardens for the front & rear of the thirty-story apartment building known as Imperial House, which is going up at 150 East 69 St.

The New Yorker

David H. Engel, a young American architect, in collaboration with Bye & Herrmann, a firm of landscape architects in Rye, has designed a pair of block-long gardens for the front & rear of the thirty-story apartment building known as Imperial House, which is going up at 150 East 69 St.

The New Yorker

Computations with an unstructured grid and LGR are normally based on a block list which gives the indices of gridblocks or cell numbering and connections which give the indices of block interfaces linking to a pair of adjacent blocks.

Petroleum Science

He laid a pair of wooden blocks on the football set, put the bucket on the blocks, and strapped the whole thing together with duct tape.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a pair of blocks" when you specifically want to emphasize that there are two blocks functioning as a unit or set. For example, in sports contexts, "a pair of blocks" might refer to defensive plays. In other situations, it might refer to structural components.

Common error

Avoid using "a pair of blocks" when simply referring to two separate blocks without a functional connection or specific emphasis on their pairing. In such cases, "two blocks" is often more appropriate and less stylistically heavy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a pair of blocks" functions as a noun phrase, typically acting as the subject or object of a sentence. Ludwig indicates that this phrase is often used to describe two blocks considered together, either as a literal pair of physical blocks or metaphorically in technical or abstract contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Academia

14%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

7%

Wiki

4%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a pair of blocks" is a grammatically correct and frequently used noun phrase, with its usage spanning across varied contexts such as news, science, and academia. Ludwig's analysis confirms this, indicating the phrase's descriptive function and suitability for neutral registers. While alternatives like "two blocks" or "a couple of blocks" exist, "a pair of blocks" is particularly apt when emphasizing the blocks as a unit. It's a versatile phrase, but overusing it in place of simpler alternatives can lead to wordiness. The choice of phrase depends largely on the context and the intended emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

two blocks

Direct and simple alternative referring to the quantity.

couple of blocks

Informal substitute for "a pair of blocks", denoting a quantity of two.

brace of blocks

More formal and less common alternative for "a pair of blocks".

set of blocks

Emphasizes the blocks as part of a collection or matching group.

duo of blocks

Highlights the two blocks as a distinct pairing.

matching blocks

Focuses on the blocks being similar or identical.

complementary blocks

Indicates the blocks work well together.

aligned blocks

Suggests the blocks are arranged in a specific order.

adjacent blocks

Emphasizes the proximity of the blocks to each other.

connecting blocks

Highlights the function of the blocks to join or link something.

FAQs

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

You can use "a pair of blocks" to describe two blocks functioning as a unit, such as "The child stacked "a pair of blocks" to build a tower", or in sports context as, "Kobe Bryant denied James late in the game with "a pair of blocks"".

What phrases are similar to "a pair of blocks"?

Alternatives include "two blocks", "a couple of blocks", or, in more formal contexts, "brace of blocks".

Is it more appropriate to say "two blocks" or "a pair of blocks"?

While both are correct, "a pair of blocks" implies that the two blocks are related or function together, while "two blocks" is a more general description.

In what situations is "a pair of blocks" most suitable?

"A pair of blocks" is most suitable when the blocks are viewed as a set or unit performing a specific function, such as in construction, gameplay, or defensive maneuvers in sports.