a pair of individuals

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a pair of individuals" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to two people or entities that are considered together as a unit. Example: "The study focused on a pair of individuals who shared similar backgrounds and experiences."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Each dot represents a pair of individuals.

Nature

(2) Interactions between a pair of individuals result in two types of coupling, namely the anti-phase and the in-phase coupling.

Robotics and Autonomous Systems

Indeed, 50 years later, the two men are still regarded more as a double act - molecular biology's Lennon and McCartney - than as a pair of individuals.

The Guardian - Books

This permits a pair of individuals with unequal reputations for aggressiveness to avoid wasteful conflict that would result from aggressive play by both.

Games and Economic Behavior

A pair of individuals with possible gang ties tried to cut in line, sparking a violent episode in which the girl, an innocent bystander, was shot and wounded.

The New York Times

That an ideology or a sales practice is both coherent enough and distributed enough that a pair of individuals can make a connection and carry out the compact without ever being in touch with a senior leader or even a franchise leader.

The New Yorker

A dyad represents the smallest possible social group, a pair of individuals, being the core of any "intersubjective relationship".

EPJ Data Science

An assertion states that an individual belongs to a concept of that a pair of individuals satisfies a role.

Journal of the Brazilian Computer Society

Our findings demonstrate a logarithmic increase in call duration with an increase in inter-call gap between a pair of individuals.

EPJ Data Science

Trust: The second type of dynamic link connecting nodes is trust, denoted by (T.T= [T_{i, j}]_{N times N}) where (T_{i, j} in [0, 1]) and represents a degree of trust between a pair of individuals.

Human-centric Computing and Information Sciences

Thus, if a predication of the form 'aRb' is true, it is generally assumed that what makes it true is a pair of individuals, a and b, and a pair of accidents, F and G.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a pair of individuals" when you want to sound slightly more formal than saying "two people" or "a couple". It's suitable for academic writing or when referring to people in a detached, objective manner.

Common error

Avoid using "a pair of individuals" in casual conversation or informal writing, as it can sound stilted or pretentious. Opt for simpler alternatives like "two people" or "a couple" in those settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a pair of individuals" functions primarily as a noun phrase. Ludwig AI confirms that it is grammatically correct, and the examples show it acting as a subject or object in sentences, referring to two people or entities considered as a unit.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

68%

News & Media

27%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a pair of individuals" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression, especially in scientific and news contexts. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase functions as a noun phrase, referring to two people or entities. While interchangeable with simpler alternatives like "two people", it carries a more formal tone, making it suitable for academic papers and objective reporting. Common errors involve using it in overly casual settings. Related phrases include "two people" and "a couple of individuals".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

two people

Directly states the quantity and the subjects.

a couple of individuals

Uses "couple" as a synonym for "pair".

a duo of individuals

Employs "duo" implying collaboration or partnership.

a twosome

A more informal way of referring to two people.

two persons

A more formal and somewhat archaic phrasing.

a set of two people

Emphasizes the group aspect more explicitly.

a brace of individuals

Uses "brace", which is less common and slightly more formal.

a dyad

A sociological term for a group of two.

a pair of subjects

More appropriate in research or experimental contexts.

two entities

Broader term that encompasses both people and non-people.

FAQs

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

Use "a pair of individuals" when referring to two people or entities, especially in formal or academic contexts. For example, "The research focused on a pair of individuals with similar genetic markers."

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

You can use alternatives like "two people", "a couple of individuals", or "a duo of individuals" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "a pair of individuals" instead of "two people"?

"A pair of individuals" is more formal and suitable for academic, scientific, or legal writing. "Two people" is more common and appropriate for everyday conversation or less formal writing.

Is "a pair of individuals" always interchangeable with "a couple of people"?

While often interchangeable, "a pair of individuals" carries a slightly more detached and formal tone than "a couple of people". The choice depends on the desired level of formality and context.