a pair of lines

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a pair of lines" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to two lines, often in contexts such as mathematics, art, or literature. Example: "In geometry, a pair of lines can intersect at a point or be parallel to each other."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

D-lines, in spectroscopy, a pair of lines, characteristic of sodium, in the yellow region of the spectrum.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Inside the 1,700-acre 1,700-acreos of tracks converged into a pair of lotes that slid gently into the chaosel Tunnel's twofmoutracks blaconverged25 feet across and almost 100 feet apart.

The New York Times - Magazine

Today, the hundreds of people awaiting passage through either of the school's entrances form a pair of lines winding from the middle of East 82nd Street around the respective corners of First and Second Avenues and halfway up another block.

The New Yorker

Each object is represented by a pair of lines with opposite slopes that intersect on the spatial axis at the object coordinate.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

In the case of the Muller-Lyer, the paradigm is a pair of lines one longer and more distant than its plane, the other shorter and less distant.

SEP

Each such object is represented by a pair of lines with opposite slopes in an associated space/spatial-frequency (or TF) representation obtained from the hologram, intersecting at the object coordinate.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

Somewhere, too, there's a pair of lined work gloves.

The New York Times

However, when applied to a pair of line segments with an irrational ratio, such as √2 and 1, it fails to terminate.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Figure 10c represents the 3-D image of the reconstructed line scratch showing a pair of line scratches.

Nanoscale Research Letters

This proves the following: Theorem 3 Parabolic arcs maximize the affine arc-length among all short arcs interpolating a pair of line elements (Olver et al. 1996).

Biological Cybernetics

Theorem 2 provides one desired property of a distance function, namely additivity: given a pair of line elements, their interpolating parabola can be split at any point, and the corresponding affine distances add up to the original one.

Biological Cybernetics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing technical diagrams or illustrations, use "a pair of lines" to clearly indicate the presence of exactly two lines that have a specific relationship or function.

Common error

Avoid using "a pair of lines" if you are unsure whether there are precisely two lines; instead, use a more general term like "some lines" or "several lines".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a pair of lines" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and well-established in English usage. This phrase commonly identifies and refers to two lines considered together.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

52%

News & Media

24%

Wiki

24%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

4%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a pair of lines" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase, especially in scientific, news, and wiki contexts. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and common usage. It functions as a noun phrase to describe or identify two lines, often in a geometric or visual context. While "two lines" or "a couple of lines" can serve as simpler alternatives, "a pair of lines" provides a clear and precise way to reference exactly two lines. When writing, use this phrase to emphasize the duality of two lines, especially in technical descriptions or when precision is needed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

two lines

Direct synonym, simply using the number "two" instead of the phrase "a pair of".

couple of lines

Replaces "pair" with "couple", indicating two items, but may imply a more casual context.

double lines

Emphasizes the doubleness of the lines, suggesting they might be close together or related.

set of lines

Uses "set" to denote a group, slightly more formal than "pair".

twofold lines

Highlights the dual nature, implying a specific connection or purpose between the lines.

dual lines

Synonym emphasizing the 'two' aspect, can be used in technical context.

parallel lines

Specific kind of line pair, emphasizing their direction.

intersecting lines

Another specific line pair, emphasizing they meet.

brace of lines

Archaic and uncommon, meaning a pair, often used in hunting context.

binary lines

Emphasizes the two lines as distinct units, similar to a binary code.

FAQs

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

You can use "a pair of lines" to describe geometric figures, visual representations, or even abstract concepts that involve two lines. For example, "The architect used "a pair of lines" to create the illusion of depth in the drawing."

What's a simpler way to say "a pair of lines"?

Alternatives include "two lines" or "a couple of lines", which are more straightforward and commonly used in everyday language. The choice depends on the desired level of formality and context.

Is it always necessary to specify "a pair of lines", or can I sometimes just say "lines"?

If the context makes it clear that you're referring to exactly two lines, you can simply say "lines". However, if there's a possibility of ambiguity, it's best to use ""a pair of lines"" for clarity.

What's the difference between "a pair of lines" and "parallel lines"?

"A pair of lines" simply means two lines, regardless of their relationship to each other. "Parallel lines" specifically describes two lines that never intersect and maintain a constant distance from each other.