either pair

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "either pair" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when referring to one of two pairs being considered or available. For example, "You can choose either pair of shoes for the event." Alternative expressions include "any pair" and "one of the pairs."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

29 human-written examples

She would then either pair up the students or create small groups and have the student discuss what errors they noticed and how they would fix them.

Fields Mathematics Education Journal

Web of life and reverence either pair together, gently and assuredly, or physical and spiritual integrity unravel mercilessly; hence, creation crucified.

Huffington Post

This gives you a perfect blend, and you can either pair it with loafers, sneakers or a sexy heel like I did here.

Huffington Post

However, regardless of the various situations, the common strategic wisdom in the blackjack community is to "Always split aces and eights" when dealt either pair as initial cards.

Wikipedia

Sample populations were compared either pair wise using the Mann-Whitney U test or in groups of more than two using the Kruskal-Wallis test.

Plosone

Either pair could be used as a reference, but it is important to know how many copies the reference primer pair amplifies, because this will affect the raw transgene copy number estimate.

BMC Plant Biology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

31 human-written examples

The analysis can be conducted between two groups, either paired or non-paired samples.

BMC Genomics

Participants were either paired with one of their reported family members, a friend or an unrelated villager.

The Journal of Socio-Economics

Several prominent Democrats have since announced they would not seek re-election because they were either paired with other incumbent Democrats or pushed into unfamiliar districts.

The New York Times

Neutral sounds served as conditioned stimuli (CS) and were either paired with a negative odor (CS+) or an odorless vehicle (CS−).

Neurobiology of Learning and Memory

Either paired t-test analyses or Wilcoxon signed-rank analyses were performed for normal and non-parametrically distributed data, respectively.

Journal of Experimental Orthopaedics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always follow "either" with the singular form "pair" rather than the plural "pairs" when used as a determiner.

Common error

Avoid using "either pair" when you actually mean both sets. While "either pair" offers a choice (one or the other), "each pair" or "both pairs" implies that the condition applies to all sets simultaneously.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "either pair" serves as a noun phrase where "either" acts as a distributive determiner modifying the singular noun "pair". According to Ludwig AI, it typically refers to one of two sets or groupings, functioning as a subject or object in a sentence. It allows for the selection between two distinct dual-unit entities.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

65%

News & Media

20%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "either pair" is a versatile and grammatically correct expression used to identify one out of two sets. Ludwig AI highlights its widespread prevalence in scientific literature for methodological descriptions and in news media for lifestyle choices. Because "either" is a singular distributive, it must always be followed by the singular noun "pair". While it is highly formal in research contexts, it remains neutral and accessible for everyday writing. When using it, ensure the context involves exactly two options to maintain logical precision, or consider alternatives like "any pair" if more than two sets are present.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

either of the pairs

Adds a prepositional structure for more formal or specific emphasis on the two sets.

any pair

Broadens the choice to one out of many rather than strictly one out of two.

one pair or the other

More explicit and emphatic regarding the disjunction.

either set

Generalizes the group type from a pair to any collection.

one of the pairs

Focuses on the selection from a group without the distributive 'either' tone.

whichever pair

Emphasizes the freedom of choice between the two sets.

each pair

Changes the meaning from 'one of two' to 'every individual set' in a group.

either combination

Refers to a selection of grouped variables in a more abstract way.

both pairs

Refers to the entirety of the two sets rather than a choice between them.

either couple

Specific to people or entities often described as couples rather than pairs.

FAQs

How do I use "either pair" in a sentence?

You can use it as a subject or object, such as in "You can wear "either pair" of shoes to the gala" or "Either pair of genes could be responsible for the trait".

What can I say instead of "either pair"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "any pair", "one of the pairs", or "whichever pair".

Is it "either pair" or "either pairs"?

The correct form is "either pair" because the determiner "either" requires a singular count noun. Using "either pairs" is generally considered ungrammatical.

What is the difference between "either pair" and "any pair"?

The phrase "either pair" specifically implies there are only two sets to choose from, whereas "any pair" suggests there are three or more options available.