a pair of students

USAGE SUMMARY

"a pair of students" is a correct and usable expression in written English.
You can use it when referring to two students together. For example: "The teacher was helping a pair of students with their math homework."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

Six months later, he was free-soloing a cliff in Cornas when, he wrote, an instructor asked if he could help secure a rope for a pair of students.

The New Yorker

A pair of students who unfurled a banner saying "we want free education" during a speech by Mr Erdogan have languished in jail for over a year on charges of "membership of a terrorist group".

The Economist

After submitting their entries, the students voted for the best of the bunch; then a pair of students tallied the class votes and gave a gift to the winner: a Sonics bobblehead doll, maybe, or twenty dollars' worth of coffee.

The New Yorker

When each pair has gathered enough information to support its assigned point of view, have that pair join with a pair of students supporting the opposite point of view.

The New York Times

The young, represented in his speech by a pair of students Mr Miliband met while ambling on Hampstead Heath, despair at the "black hole" dug for them by the baby boomers.

The Economist

It was Howard Trafford and Peter McNeish, a pair of students at the Bolton Institute of Technology, who organised the punk pariahs' trip up north, and it would have seismic repercussions as much for them as for every other music fan in the city.

The Guardian - Music

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, a film about a pair of student filmmakers who befriend a girl with cancer, won both the US dramatic audience award and the grand jury prize at the 31st Sundance film festival awards.

The Guardian - Film

What else can possibly be said about this record-busting snapshot tale, which traces the lives of a pair of student friends on the same day, 15 July, for two decades after they graduate in 1988?

Independent

We strive to be like Google The Facebookers see themselves as lowering the access barriers to tech entrepreneurs and developers, enabling all of them - whether a major corporation or a pair of student developers in India - to build on the Facebook applications platform.

The Guardian

A pair of student-engineered cubesats equipped with TILE thrusters are scheduled to take off on RocketLab's first big commercial payload launch, "It's Business Time".

TechCrunch

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Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing collaborative projects, use "a pair of students" to emphasize teamwork and shared responsibility. For example, "A pair of students collaborated on the science project".

Common error

While "a pair of students" is generally acceptable, avoid using it excessively in highly formal academic papers. Opt for more precise terms like "two students" or "a student duo" for a more professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a pair of students" functions primarily as a noun phrase, acting as the subject or object in a sentence. As Ludwig AI shows, it describes a specific group of two students, often implying a connection or shared activity between them.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

47%

Science

28%

Wiki

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a pair of students" is a grammatically correct and neutrally-toned noun phrase used to describe two students, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It commonly appears in news and media, as well as scientific contexts, as it is ideal for discussions, reports and academic papers. When a more formal or precise register is needed, consider alternatives such as "two students" or "a student duo". This ensures clarity and appropriateness across various forms of writing. You can avoid overuse in highly formal writing and maintain grammatical accuracy by ensuring that "students" is plural. Overall, this phrase is helpful for describing small collaborations in educational or research settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

two students

Numerical designation instead of collective "pair".

a couple of students

Replaces "pair" with a synonym having a slightly less formal tone.

a duo of students

Uses "duo" instead of "pair", which can sound more sophisticated.

two learners

Replaces "students" with "learners", shifting focus to the act of learning.

a student twosome

Uses "twosome" to emphasize the pair's unity or partnership.

a brace of students

Employs "brace", an archaic term for a pair, adding a vintage feel.

a few students

Refers to an indefinite but small number of students, slightly broader than a pair.

some students

Indicates an unspecified number of students, generally more informal.

several students

Suggests a small group, but could be more than just two.

a small group of students

Emphasizes the smallness of the group compared to a larger class.

FAQs

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

You can use "a pair of students" to describe two students working together or being considered as a unit. For example, "A pair of students presented their research at the conference."

What is a more formal alternative to "a pair of students"?

In formal contexts, consider using alternatives like "two students" or "a student duo" for a more professional tone.

Is it correct to say "a pair of student" instead of "a pair of students"?

No, "a pair of student" is grammatically incorrect. The correct plural form, "a pair of students", should always be used.

What is the difference between "a pair of students" and "a group of students"?

"A pair of students" specifically refers to two students, while "a group of students" refers to more than two students.