in pairs

USAGE SUMMARY

"in pairs" is an acceptable phrase in written English.
You can use it to emphasize that something should be done or experienced with two people together. For example, "The students worked in pairs to complete the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Some were in pairs.

The New Yorker

Form held in pairs.

The New York Times - Sports

Crews travel in pairs.

The New York Times

Stills work in pairs.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Mallards swam in pairs.

The New York Times - Arts

The women teach in pairs.

The New York Times

Women clean closets in pairs.

The New York Times - Style

3. Divide students in pairs.

The New York Times

"Break it all down in pairs.

The New Yorker

(This day is happening in pairs).

The New Yorker

And the leaves come in pairs.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When assigning tasks, using the phrase "in pairs" is a clear and concise way to instruct people to work together with one other person. For example, instruct "Students should complete the exercise "in pairs" to encourage collaboration."

Common error

Avoid using "in pairs" when the situation involves more than two entities working together. For instance, instead of saying "Divide the group "in pairs" for this four-person task", consider creating two subgroups for effective teamwork.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in pairs" functions primarily as an adverbial phrase, modifying verbs to describe how an action is performed or how something is arranged. As seen in Ludwig's examples, it indicates that something is done or exists in groups of two. This aligns with Ludwig AI's assessment that the phrase is acceptable for use in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Wiki

25%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Science

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "in pairs" is a grammatically correct and frequently used prepositional phrase that describes groupings or actions involving two entities. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's acceptable for written English and appears across various contexts, including news, academia, and general content. Its function is adverbial, specifying the manner in which something is done or arranged. To ensure correct usage, avoid using it when more than two entities are involved, and consider alternatives like "two by two" or "in twos" depending on the specific context. "In pairs" is a versatile and clear way to convey the concept of dyadic arrangements or actions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

two by two

This alternative emphasizes the numerical aspect of being in pairs.

in twos

This option directly references the grouping of items or individuals by two.

in duos

Replaces "pairs" with "duos", highlighting a musical or partnership context.

in couples

This variation specifies the pairs as couples, often implying romantic relationships.

in sets of two

This option uses a more descriptive term for pairs.

in tandem

This emphasizes coordinated action by two entities.

in matched sets

This alternative highlights the similarity or matching nature of the pairs.

in braces

This option is a more formal or technical term for pairs.

in binary form

This choice uses a computer science term for something existing in twos.

side by side

This alternative focuses on the proximity and alignment of the two entities.

FAQs

How can I use "in pairs" in a sentence?

You can use "in pairs" to describe how people or items are arranged or working together. For example, "The dancers performed "in pairs"", or "Students should discuss the topic "in pairs"".

What are some alternatives to using "in pairs"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "two by two", "in twos", or "as couples" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it grammatically correct to say "in pairs"?

Yes, "in pairs" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase in English. It is used to indicate that people or items are grouped or working together in sets of two.

When is it appropriate to use "in pairs" versus "in groups"?

Use "in pairs" when you specifically want to emphasize that items or individuals are arranged or working together in sets of two. Use "in groups" when the number of individuals or items is more than two.