both of these two

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "both of these two" is correct and usable in written English.
This phrase is most commonly used to refer to two items, people, or concepts that have already been mentioned or implied in a sentence. For example, "Both of these two towns have a population of fewer than 1,000 people."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Both of these two play the spinners very nimbly.

The Guardian - Sport

"Both of these two will need to be built up".

The Guardian - Business

"And both of these two groups, they do it with a lot of passion.

The New York Times

Both of these two first frontiers were primarily agricultural in character.

Britannica

And both of these two became classics, and educated a generation of physicists.

Cornell University

Ironically enough, both of these two big players have seen the writing on the wall for almost a decade.

Harvard Business Review

Now in a sense, the underlying question of both of these two lectures is: How did America win?

Yale University

Methods and standards can be found in both of these two classes.

Environment International

Both of these two sensors present high selectivity to Cu2+ and high sensitivity with acidity independence.

Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical

England will want one, or ideally, both of these two early on a pitch like this, or things could get nasty.

The Guardian - Sport

Both of these two analyses are proven safe and the reasons behind each design decision are discussed.

Theoretical Computer Science

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "both of these two" when you want to specifically emphasize that you are referring to two items previously mentioned and want to highlight that both are relevant.

Common error

Avoid using "both of these two" when the context already clearly indicates you are talking about two things. Simpler alternatives like "these two" or "both" might be more concise and effective.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "both of these two" functions as a determiner phrase, specifically highlighting and emphasizing a pair of previously mentioned or implied items. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

47%

News & Media

21%

Academia

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "both of these two" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to emphasize that two specific items or entities are being referred to. While sometimes considered redundant, its primary function is to add clarity and focus, highlighting both elements. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, and its wide distribution across diverse sources like science, news, and academia, indicates its versatility and general acceptance in written English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

these two

Omits "both of" for brevity; less emphatic.

both these

Reorders the words slightly for emphasis.

the two of these

Adds "of" and rearranges for a slightly different flow.

each of these two

Shifts focus to individuality within the pair.

either of these two

Indicates a choice between the two.

the latter two

Refers to the last two items mentioned in a list.

these couple

Uses "couple" as an alternative to "two" in a more informal way.

the pair

Refers to the two as a set, rather than individually.

the aforementioned pair

More formal way to refer to two previously mentioned items.

both items

A very generic way to refer to both things.

FAQs

How can I use "both of these two" in a sentence?

Use "both of these two" to emphasize that you're referring to two specific items that have already been mentioned. For instance, "We examined "sample A" and "sample B". "Both of these two" samples showed similar results".

What are some alternatives to "both of these two"?

Alternatives include "these two", "both these", or, if the context is clear, simply "both".

Is it grammatically correct to say "both of these two"?

Yes, "both of these two" is grammatically correct, though sometimes considered slightly redundant. It is often used for emphasis.

What is the difference between "both of these two" and "these two"?

"Both of these two" emphasizes that you're considering both items together, whereas "these two" is a more neutral way of referring to the pair.