a pair of items

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a pair of items" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to two similar or matching objects or pieces. Example: "I bought a pair of items from the store, a matching set of salt and pepper shakers."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

A pair of items in teacher autonomy, i.e., AUTO1 and AUTO2, was allowed to estimate error covariance.

International Journal of STEM Education

This paper proposes a novel data mining approach for exploring hierarchical tree structures, named tree-like patterns, representing the relationships for a pair of items in a sequence.

Data & Knowledge Engineering

Using tree-like patterns, the relationships for a pair of items can be identified in terms of the cause and effect.

Data & Knowledge Engineering

The implementation of our model accepts, as input from a user, ratings for a pair of items, or the deviations of their ratings.

Journal of Cloud Computing: Advances, Systems and Applications

Several common data summaries such as the item proportion correct, proportion simultaneously correct for a pair of items, and observed score distribution can be expressed as the statistic O by defining (e_i(mathbf y_i,mathbf z_i)) appropriately.

Large-scale Assessments in Education

or the weighted proportion of students who correctly answer a pair of dichotomous items or receive a specific pair of scores on a pair of items one of which is polytomous.

Large-scale Assessments in Education

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

And now Locca has just kicked off a crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo for a pair of item trackers, the Locca Phone and Locca Mini (pictured above left), that incorporate a range of tracking tech to offer longer distance real-time item tracking.

TechCrunch

Confronted with any pair of items in a series with regard to which the predicate in question is soritical, the predicate is always interpreted in such a way as to not distinguish between them.

SEP

IRT assumes local independence of items, meaning that a subject's responses to any pair of items are statistically independent of each other [ 13].

Arthritis Research and Therapy

One item I with parameter βi evaluated twice on an individual can be seen as a pair of virtual items I*1 and I*2 with two item parameters β*i1 and β*i2 respectively.

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

Using a pair of traditional items (a cello and a loom), a duo fashioned an entirely new sound — something like ambient electronica, only earthier — which issued into the twilight and drew enthusiastic reactions from onlookers.

The New York Times - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use the phrase "a pair of items" when you want to specifically emphasize that you are talking about two distinct things considered together or as a set.

Common error

Be careful not to use "a pair of items" when simply "two items" is sufficient. Overusing "a pair of items" can make your writing sound repetitive and less concise.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a pair of items" functions as a noun phrase, acting as the subject or object in a sentence. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is a grammatically correct way to refer to two things considered together.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

30%

Wiki

30%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a pair of items" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression to refer to two objects considered as a unit. As Ludwig confirms, its use is widespread across various contexts, including science, news, and general writing. While perfectly acceptable, consider alternatives like "two items" or "a couple of things" for conciseness and to avoid redundancy. The phrase's neutral register makes it suitable for both formal and informal settings, offering flexibility in your writing. Keep in mind, though, that the emphasis should be on precision and relevance when choosing between this phrase and simpler alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a matching pair

Indicates that the items are similar or designed to complement each other.

two objects

Emphasizes the number of items involved.

two articles

Specifies that the items are written pieces or objects of a certain kind.

a couple of things

Offers a more casual way to refer to two items.

a couple of objects

Similar to "a couple of things" but emphasizes the physical nature of the items.

a set of two

Highlights that the items belong together or are designed to be used together.

a brace of items

Uses a less common, more formal term for a pair.

a duo of items

Emphasizes the combination or partnership of the two items.

two units

Focuses on the items as individual entities within a larger context.

a twosome of things

An informal alternative to "a pair of items".

FAQs

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

You can use "a pair of items" to refer to two things that are related or considered as a set. For example, "The store sells "a pair of shoes" for $50."

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

You can use alternatives like "two items", "a couple of things", or "a matching set" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "a pair of items" or "two items"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but "two items" is often more concise. Use "a pair of items" when you want to emphasize the idea of a matching or related set.

When should I use "a pair of items" instead of "several items"?

Use "a pair of items" when you are specifically referring to exactly two items. Use "several items" when you are referring to more than two items but not a specific number.