after a pair of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "after a pair of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to something that occurs following two items or units of a particular kind. Example: "After a pair of shoes was delivered, she decided to try them on immediately."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

46 human-written examples

After a pair of singles.

The Guardian - Sport

She came off, after a pair of nines.

The New Yorker

Later this year Ms. Mesirow will release "Ring," her first album after a pair of EPs.

The New York Times - Arts

After a pair of losses, the captains made a conscious effort to inject more fun into match days.

Princeton University

The rest of the field will be set after a pair of qualifying races Thursday.

The New York Times - Sports

After a pair of 73s, Van Pelt responded with a bogey-free 67.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

7 human-written examples

After a pair of peregrine falcons nested on the second balcony of the Campanile, two chicks hatched in late May.

University of California, Berkeley

The quarter ended two plays later after a pair of LSU runs resulted in no gain.

Wikipedia

The White House reportedly underwent a brief lockdown Sunday after a pair of balloons landed on the property.

HuffPost

We were out dancing in la Zona and Alex disappeared after a pair of German chicks.

The New Yorker

One year after a pair of devastating processor vulnerabilities were first disclosed, Intel's still dealing with the fallout.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "after a pair of", ensure that the context clearly specifies what the 'pair' consists of to avoid ambiguity. For example, "After a pair of successful trials, the product was launched" is clearer than "After a pair, the product was launched".

Common error

Avoid using "after a pair of" when referring to items that are not naturally or logically grouped as a pair. For instance, saying "after a pair of meetings and a phone call" is less effective than "after a series of meetings and a phone call".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "after a pair of" functions as a prepositional phrase, introducing a temporal clause that specifies when an event occurred. It indicates a sequence of events following the occurrence of two items or events. Ludwig AI validates this usage across numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Academia

25%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Science

10%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "after a pair of" is a versatile prepositional phrase used to indicate temporal sequencing. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread use across various contexts, particularly in news, academic writing, and general discourse. While generally neutral in tone, its precision should be considered for formal or scientific contexts. Remember to clearly define what constitutes the 'pair' and avoid using it when referring to unrelated items. Alternatives such as "following a duo of" or "subsequent to two" can provide nuanced variations in meaning and formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

following a duo of

Replaces "pair" with "duo", maintaining the sense of two items or events.

following a brace of

Replaces "pair" with "brace", which also signifies a set of two.

subsequent to two

Uses "subsequent" to emphasize the temporal sequence and replaces "a pair of" with "two".

in the aftermath of two

Emphasizes the period after the events, often implying consequences or changes.

succeeding two

Indicates that something comes after the specified two items or events.

in the wake of a couple of

Uses "in the wake of" to suggest a consequence or result following "a couple of".

on the heels of a couple of

Suggests that something closely follows the specified events.

post a couple of

Uses "post" as a prefix to indicate after, in a more concise manner.

as a result of two

Replaces the temporal aspect with a causal relationship, indicating that something happens because of the two items.

later than two

Simply uses "later than" to indicate a temporal sequence following two items.

FAQs

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

Use "after a pair of" to indicate that something happens following two related or similar items or events. For example, "After a pair of successful tests, the software was approved".

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

You can use alternatives like "following a duo of", "subsequent to two", or "in the wake of a couple of" depending on the context.

Is it correct to use "after a pair of" when referring to unrelated items?

While grammatically correct, it's better to use a more general phrase like "after a series of" or "following several" when the items aren't naturally considered a pair. Using "after a pair of" implies a connection between the two items.

Which is more formal, "after a pair of" or "following two"?

"Following two" is slightly more formal than "after a pair of". "After a pair of" is suitable for general use, while "following two" might be preferred in academic or professional contexts.