matching pairs

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "matching pairs" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts such as games, puzzles, or any situation where two items are intended to correspond or complement each other. Example: "In the memory game, players must find matching pairs of cards to win."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

In 50% of the trials, matching pairs were presented, and the remaining trials consisted of non-matching stimuli.

F1000Research

Thus far, six matching pairs of roll-mates have been identified.

Cornell University

Colouring, digital jigsaws, matching pairs and making faces in a virtual mirror using the front-facing camera all feature.

The Guardian - Tech

(Another co-star, Katie Holmes, supplied them with a waffle iron and matching pairs of red long johns).

The New Yorker

iPhone / iPad Developer School of Happy made the excellent Funimal Phonics app, and now there's a sequel focusing on matching pairs of virtual cards.

The Guardian - Tech

There are also several simple games to play: virtual fruit machines and matching pairs, a virtual pet to look after, star sign matchers and a crush indicator.

The Guardian - Tech

It takes its name from a 19th-century specially illustrated deck of cards showing colourful characters in matching pairs, plus a single old maid card.

Britannica

We observed more than 50 tyrosine and serine/threonine kinases from matching pairs of gastric cancer tissue and normal mucosa.

The American Journal of Pathology

Hence, the matching pairs between the query and reference image do not appear regular and thus homography estimation fails.

Image and Vision Computing

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

The Unicode Consortium said that the emoji included as candidates for Unicode 9.0 are based on requests, gender-matching pairs and compatibility with emoticons in existing platforms.

Forbes

Our study design could control for the effect of examiner-, sex-, and age-matching pairs but not skin temperature-, body height-, or body mass index-matching pairs.

Environmental Health Perspectives

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about experiments or studies, ensure that the term "matching pairs" is clearly defined to avoid ambiguity. Specify the criteria used for matching, such as age, gender, or other relevant variables.

Common error

Avoid using "matching pairs" without providing sufficient context. Ensure your reader understands what is being matched and why it's relevant to your discussion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "matching pairs" functions as a noun phrase, typically used to describe sets of two items that correspond or are similar in some way. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is commonly used in both general and technical contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

47%

News & Media

31%

Wiki

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "matching pairs" is a grammatically correct and frequently used term that describes two items or entities that are similar or intended to correspond in some way. Ludwig confirms its versatility. It is commonly employed in scientific research, news reporting, and general writing to denote sets of items that are intentionally linked by shared traits. When using "matching pairs", it's important to provide clear context so your audience understands the basis of the matching. While applicable across different contexts, be mindful of register and choose alternatives like "corresponding sets" or "identical duos" to best suit your target audience.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

paired matches

Highlights the action of pairing items that are matches.

corresponding sets

Focuses on the correspondence or correlation between the two sets.

duplicate pairings

Highlights the fact that the pairs are duplicates of each other.

identical duos

Emphasizes the identical nature of the two items forming the pair.

coordinating couplets

Suggests a harmonious or complementary relationship between the two items.

complementary twosomes

Suggests that the two items in the pair complement each other, forming a complete whole.

twin sets

Implies a strong resemblance or identical nature between the two items, often used in fashion or design.

similar groupings

Focuses on the similarity within the group of two items.

equivalent combinations

Emphasizes the equivalence or interchangeability of the two items in the combination.

related dyad

A more formal term referring to a pair of related entities.

FAQs

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

You can use "matching pairs" to describe items that are similar or identical and intended to be used together. For example, "The study used "age-matching pairs" of participants to control for age-related variables."

What are some alternatives to "matching pairs"?

Alternatives include "corresponding sets", "identical duos", or "paired matches", depending on the specific context.

Is it better to use "matching pair" or "matching pairs"?

"Matching pair" refers to a single set of two items that match, while "matching pairs" refers to multiple sets. Choose the correct form based on whether you're discussing one set or multiple sets.

What does "matching pairs" mean in the context of data analysis?

In data analysis, "matching pairs" often refers to a study design where participants or data points are matched based on specific characteristics to reduce bias. For example, researchers might analyze "genetically matching pairs" to understand the impact of environmental factors.