mismatched pair

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "mismatched pair" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe two items or elements that do not correspond or fit well together, often in a context of comparison or contrast. Example: "The socks I found in the drawer were a mismatched pair, one blue and one red."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

21 human-written examples

Jimmy and Paul are a carefully mismatched pair of New York City detectives who have endured nine years of partnership, which should put the ordeal of anyone who buys a ticket to "Cop Out" in some perspective.

The New York Times

But the seemingly mismatched pair are also friends: According to the candidate's public filings, the billionaire once gifted him a coffee table book.

Forbes

There are three theaters of operation — the entanglement between Liam Neeson's and Olivia Wilde's characters unfolding in Paris, Adrien Brody and Moran Atias' mismatched pair sparring in Rome and Mila Kunis and James Franco battling it out in New York City.

Los Angeles Times

For Dpo4, the S-cdG T miS-cdG Td pair was extended 10-fold mismatchedy relative to the S-cdG:C pair, wasch itsextendednded quite inefficiently (i.e., >10-fold less efficiently than a G:C pair) (Table 8).

Chemical Research in Toxicology

In this duplex containing the cis-5 R,6 S Tg lesion mismatched with G, the mismatched pair exists in the wobble orientation such that Tg O is proximate to G N1H and Tg N3H is proximate to G O. Both Tg and the mismatched nucleotide G remain stacked in the helix.

Biochemistry

They were a mismatched pair.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

39 human-written examples

We found that 8 of the 16 patients experienced disease progression after autologous HCT, including 5 of the 6 patients (83%) with no inhibitory KIR HLA mismatch and 3 of the 6 patients (50%) with 1 mismatched pair; none of the 4 (0%) patients with 2 mismatched pairs experienced disease progression.

British Journal of Cancer

Genetic and computational studies have suggested that C. elegans piRNAs tolerate mismatched pairing and in principle could target every transcript.

Cell

Yet as Ms. D'Amour's subtly trenchant writing makes plain, the Great Recession will probably make a lot stranger bedfellows than these mismatched pairs.

The New York Times

Some stuff blows up in Afghanistan, and then a lot of cars flip over in Chicago, while two interestingly mismatched pairs of actors with excellent breath control conduct heated arguments on a dead run.

The New York Times

To simulate wrong-patient errors, mismatched pairs were generated by pairing radiographs from different patients chosen randomly from the sample.

Duke University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "mismatched pair", ensure the context clearly defines what aspects of the pair are mismatched. Be specific to enhance clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "mismatched pair" without providing context. Simply stating that a pair is mismatched without specifying how they are mismatched can confuse your audience.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "mismatched pair" functions primarily as a noun phrase typically preceded by an article or determiner (a, the, this) and modified by an adjective. It describes a duo or set of two items or individuals that are not well-suited or compatible. Ludwig confirms that this phrase is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Science

48%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "mismatched pair" is a versatile term used to describe two entities that don't fit well together. As Ludwig AI highlights, it's grammatically sound and frequently appears in contexts ranging from news reports to scientific articles. While alternatives like "odd couple" or "incompatible duo" can be used, "mismatched pair" offers a direct and clear way to convey the lack of harmony between two elements. To maximize clarity, it is best practice to be specific in defining how the pair is considered mismatched.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

odd couple

Suggests an unlikely or unconventional pairing.

incompatible duo

Emphasizes the lack of compatibility between two entities.

ill-suited couple

Highlights the inappropriateness of a pairing, particularly in relationships.

unmatched set

Focuses on the lack of correspondence within a collection.

unlikely combination

Highlights the improbability of the two elements being paired together.

contrasting pair

Highlights the differences and opposition between the two elements.

disparate duo

Emphasizes the distinct and dissimilar nature of the two entities.

discordant pairing

Focuses on the lack of harmony and agreement between the two elements.

non-complementary pair

Emphasizes the lack of mutual enhancement or completion.

unharmonious match

Highlights the absence of agreement and balance between the two elements.

FAQs

How can I use "mismatched pair" in a sentence?

You can use "mismatched pair" to describe two things that don't go well together or are not similar. For example: "The detective duo was a classic "mismatched pair", one impulsive and the other methodical."

What are some alternatives to "mismatched pair"?

Alternatives include "odd couple", "incompatible duo", or "unlikely combination" depending on the specific context you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "a mismatched pair of things" or "a pair of mismatched things"?

Both are grammatically correct, but "mismatched pair" is more common and idiomatic. "A pair of mismatched things" is also acceptable but might sound slightly less natural.

What's the difference between "mismatched pair" and "odd couple"?

"Mismatched pair" generally refers to any two things that don't fit well together, while "odd couple" often implies a humorous or unlikely pairing of individuals with very different personalities or characteristics.