a set of parents

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a set of parents" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a group or collection of parents, often in discussions about family structures, parenting, or social dynamics. Example: "In our study, we surveyed a set of parents to understand their views on education."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

25 human-written examples

Have you got an elderly parent to take care of or a set of parents?

The Guardian

In Vienna, a set of parents debated whether to apply to the Krauses to take their daughter, who was recovering from measles.

The Washington Post

By the time a set of parents has died, they've had two children, but so have each of those children, and perhaps even each of those four grandchildren".

The Guardian

Mr. Selvaggio said he imagined a set of parents flying together and then giving the guitar to a child for Christmas.

The New York Times

In one case, Reuther was called in to help after a set of parents became suspicious that their daughter was using drugs.

The Guardian

Where descent theorists defined a set of parents and children as the core of kinship relations, Lévi-Strauss defined it as a husband and wife, their son, and the wife's brother.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

35 human-written examples

However, the problem with the flowdown strategy is that it is necessary to have a set of parent requirements for performing a requirement analysis.

System Verification Proving the Design Solution Satisfies the Requirements

The evolutionary algorithm starts from a set of parent vectors randomly selected in the given parametric space.

Nanoscale Research Letters

Each commit c j  ∈ C has a set of parent commits ( {C}_j^{parent}subset C ). Commits are organized in a directed acyclic graph (Fig. 14b), where the first commit of the project has no parent (e.g., commit A in Fig. 14b), revision commits have only one parent (e.g., commit B in Fig. 14b), and merge commits have two or more parents (e.g., commit I in Fig. 14b).

Journal of Software Engineering Research and Development

In an effort to keep her girls grounded, Mrs. Obama, has devised a set of parenting tips.

Huffington Post

Perhaps the simplest family-based design is to genotype a sample of unrelated phenotyped individuals and their parents, generating a set of parent-offspring trios.

Genetic Epidemiology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing family structures or societal roles, using "a set of parents" is appropriate. It's a neutral and widely understood term.

Common error

Avoid relying solely on the term "a set of parents" when more specific terms like "adoptive parents" or "biological parents" would provide clarity and precision to your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a set of parents" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. Ludwig shows examples where it refers to a group or couple acting as parents.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Science

35%

Encyclopedias

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a set of parents" is a grammatically correct and commonly used noun phrase that refers to a group of individuals functioning as parents. Ludwig indicates its frequent use in various contexts, particularly in News & Media and Science. While the phrase is generally neutral and acceptable, more specific terms might be preferred for academic or highly technical writing. According to Ludwig, several authoritative sources, including The New York Times and The Guardian, demonstrate the phrase's broad applicability and acceptance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a couple of parents

Focuses on the pair aspect of parents, implying only two individuals.

two parents

Simplifies the idea to a numerical count.

the mother and father

Specifies the individual roles within the parental unit.

the child's guardians

Highlights the legal responsibility of care, not necessarily biological connection.

the parental figures

Broader term encompassing those who fulfill a parental role.

adoptive parents

Implies non-biological parents who have legally adopted a child.

the caregivers

Highlights the act of providing care and support.

foster parents

Specifies temporary caregivers appointed by the state.

biological parents

Emphasizes the genetic relationship with the child.

legal parents

Highlights a legal designation of parenthood.

FAQs

How can I use "a set of parents" in a sentence?

You can use "a set of parents" to refer to a group of parents, as in, "The school surveyed "a set of parents" about their opinions on the new curriculum".

What are some alternatives to saying "a set of parents"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "couple of parents", "the mother and father", or "child's guardians".

Is it correct to say "a set of parents"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct and commonly used. It simply refers to a group or pair of parents.

What's the difference between "a set of parents" and "the parents"?

"A set of parents" implies a non-specific group, while "the parents" typically refers to a specific group of parents already identified or under discussion.