any pair of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "any pair of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to two items or elements from a larger group, indicating that the specific items are not predetermined. Example: "You can choose any pair of shoes from the collection displayed in the store."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Johnathan Thurston and Cooper Cronk rank with any pair of halves to have played the game.

The Guardian - Sport

On the second day, walk away with any pair of shoes for $150.

The New York Times

for any pair of distinct histories.

SEP

Linkage disequilibrium was not detected between any pair of loci.

Biochemical Systematics and Ecology

The second one applies to any pair of Boolean functions.

Information Processing Letters

Let E and F be any pair of finite graphs.

Bulletin of Mathematical Sciences

If then for any, for any pair of with.

Advances in Difference Equations

The distance between any pair of nodes is symmetrical.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Potential links exist between any pair of terminals and between the central processor and the terminals.

Computers & Operations Research

This design and expression for BsAb fragments should be applicable to any pair of antigen specificities.

Journal of Immunological Methods

This algorithm computes paths of expected length Θ log2n/k) between any pair of nodes.

Theoretical Computer Science

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "any pair of" when you want to indicate that the selection of two items is arbitrary and not predetermined. For instance, "You can select any pair of numbers from the list."

Common error

Avoid using "any pair of" when the context already implies that only two items are being considered. For example, instead of saying "Compare any pair of these options," you can simply say "Compare these options."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "any pair of" functions as a determiner phrase. It specifies that two items are being considered without specifying which two. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is commonly used and grammatically correct across different domains.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

64%

News & Media

25%

Formal & Business

11%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "any pair of" is a grammatically sound and versatile phrase used to denote an unspecified selection of two items from a larger set. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is most commonly found in scientific and news-related contexts. When writing, ensure that the context implies more than just two items to avoid redundancy, and consider using synonyms like "any two" for brevity. Understanding these nuances will help you employ "any pair of" effectively in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

any two

This alternative is a shorter, more direct way of saying "any pair of".

any couple

This alternative uses "couple" instead of "pair", implying a closer relationship or connection between the two items.

any set of two

This alternative is more formal and emphasizes the selection of a group containing two items.

a pair of any

This alternative reverses the order of words and gives a slightly more formal tone.

any combination of two

This alternative emphasizes the act of combining two items from a larger set.

each pair

This alternative focuses on individual pairs within a larger group of pairs.

every pair

This alternative emphasizes the inclusion of all possible pairs.

a couple of any

This alternative uses "couple" instead of "pair", implying a closer relationship or connection between the two items and reverses the order of words giving a slightly more formal tone.

any duo of

This alternative uses "duo" to specify any two units of something.

any brace of

Using brace can be used as a synonym for pair, the change is the word choice.

FAQs

How do I use "any pair of" in a sentence?

Use "any pair of" to indicate that you're referring to two unspecified items from a larger group. For example, "You can choose "any pair of shoes" for $150."

What can I say instead of "any pair of"?

You can use alternatives like "any two", "any couple", or "any set of two" depending on the context.

Is it more formal to say "any pair of" or "any two"?

"Any pair of" and "any two" are generally interchangeable. "Any pair of" might be slightly more descriptive, while "any two" is more concise.

Can "any pair of" be used with singular nouns?

No, "any pair of" should always be followed by a plural noun, as it refers to two items. For example, ""any pair of shoes"" is correct, but "any pair of shoe" is incorrect.