a pair of guests

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a pair of guests" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when referring to two people who have come together, such as when talking about visitors or attendees of an event. For example, "We had a pair of guests join us at the party last night".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Arts

Travel

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Why have we only got here today?" he asked a pair of guests who had come before the cameras to air a parental dispute.

Independent

The tune, "Don't Run," involves a pair of guests, the bassist Ron Carter and the saxophonist Ravi Coltrane, so it's an outlier on an album devoted to a steady-working band.

The New York Times - Arts

He shared the spotlight with his working band — Mr. Patton, the bassist Joe Sanders and the drummer Quincy Davis ��� and a pair of guests, the trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire and the saxophonist John Ellis.

The New York Times - Arts

(Chinen) JACOB FRED JAZZ ODYSSEY (Tonight and tomorrow) This groove-minded piano trio put out a spacey but solid album, "The Sameness of Difference" (Hyena), last year; they boost their considerable jam-band appeal here with a pair of guests, the percussionist Mike Dillon and the saxophonist known as Skerik.

The New York Times

You'll be happy to know that I finally found my niche with a pair of guests in no hurry to rush away: the bodyguards.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

An excellent showing from a pair of guest eyebrows.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Here he re-enlists the pianist David Hazeltine and the drummer Dion Parson, substitutes in the bassist David Finck and features a pair of guest percussionists from Senegal.

The New York Times - Arts

(Chinen) KATE MCGARRY QUARTET (Friday through Sunday) To celebrate the release of her bright new album, "If Less Is More... Nothing Is Everything" (Palmetto), the astute and sensitive singer Kate McGarry augments her working band with a guest percussionist, James Shipp, and a pair of guest vocalists, Peter Eldridge and Jo Lawry.

The New York Times - Arts

Green has also written a pair of guest posts this week that go into more detail about Facebook's major changes — including one on Smart Lists and one on the new Open Graph.

TechCrunch

Completed in 1998, the Italianate compound includes a main house of more than 11,000 square feet, a pair of guest homes, a swimming pool, a pool house, a tennis court, formal gardens and parking for as many as 30 vehicles on slightly more than five acres.

Los Angeles Times

April 28 2015 May 20 201515 Amanda Seyfried and Thomas Sadoski star in a new play by Neil LaBute, directed by Leigh Silverman, as a pair of wedding guests who spend the night together.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a pair of guests" when you want to emphasize that the two guests are considered as a unit or have some connection to each other, such as arriving together or being related.

Common error

Avoid using "a pair of guests" in highly formal or academic writing where more precise or professional terms like "two attendees" or "two participants" might be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a pair of guests" functions as a noun phrase, acting as the subject or object within a sentence. It refers to a specific group of two individuals who are visiting or attending an event. This is reflected in the Ludwig examples where it modifies nouns or acts as a subject.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Arts

20%

Travel

20%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a pair of guests" is a grammatically correct and usable English phrase, as affirmed by Ludwig AI. It functions as a noun phrase, typically found in news and media contexts, and describes two individuals who are visiting or attending an event. While its frequency is relatively rare, its usage is consistent. When you want to highlight the connection or unity between two individuals attending an event, using "a pair of guests" is perfectly acceptable. In more formal contexts, alternatives like "two attendees" might be preferable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

two visitors

Focuses on the act of visiting, omitting the connotation of being invited or hosted.

couple of attendees

Highlights the participation in an event, changing the implication to one of attendance.

brace of invitees

Emphasizes the act of invitation and is slightly more formal and old-fashioned.

duo of participants

Shifts the focus to active involvement rather than passive reception.

two companions

Implies a closer, more personal relationship between the two people.

set of callers

Highlights the act of calling or visiting briefly, often without prior arrangement.

pair of delegates

Suggests a formal representation of a group or organization.

couple of patrons

Implies a supporting or funding relationship, such as with a charity or arts organization.

two audience members

Specifically refers to individuals who are part of an audience, rather than general visitors.

handful of sojourners

Highlights the temporary or transient nature of their stay or visit, and is quite literary.

FAQs

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

You can use "a pair of guests" to describe two people attending an event together. For example, "A pair of guests arrived late to the wedding reception".

What's a more formal alternative to "a pair of guests"?

In a more formal setting, consider using "two attendees" or "two participants" to maintain a professional tone.

Is there a difference between "a couple of guests" and "a pair of guests"?

While similar, "a couple of guests" is more general, while "a pair of guests" might imply the two are related or connected in some way.

When is it appropriate to use "a pair of guests" instead of just saying "two guests"?

Use "a pair of guests" when you want to emphasize the unity or connection between the two guests, such as they are a couple or business partners. Otherwise, "two guests" is sufficient.