one of the 2

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "one of the 2" is not correct in standard written English; it should be "one of the two." You can use it when referring to one item or individual from a group of two.
Example: "She is one of the two finalists in the competition."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

37 human-written examples

The school routine on one of the 2 monitored days included one 45-min PEL.

European Journal of Pediatrics

One of the 2 birds tested did succeed on this task, but the other failed.

Communicative and Integrative Biology

I must be one of the 2 million who will hold her new novel on its release".

Huffington Post

The motorist parks & locks his car at one of the 2 fixed parking points.

The New Yorker

Mrs. William Burnett was one of the 2 main organizers of the gathering.

The New Yorker

In one of the 2 worlds, our leaders are signing joint communiques with Russian leaders; in the other, the gov't.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

23 human-written examples

I applied for shared parental leave (hoping to become one of the 2%-8% in the UK), and my wife and I had made plans accordingly.

The Guardian - Money

Fig. 10 Example of one of the 2×2 MIMO channels obtained in the measurement scenario.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

However, there was one high excursion (> 600 ng/m) during one of the 2-week monitoring periods.

Environmental Health Perspectives

Lay one of the 2″ strips of tulle on top, aligned with the bottom edge of the skirt.

WikiHow

During this action, one of the 2/9th's sections was held up by fire from three Japanese machine gun positions.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the grammatically correct form, "one of the two", in formal writing to maintain clarity and professionalism.

Common error

Don't omit the word "two" when referring to a specific set of two items. Using "one of the 2" is grammatically incorrect. Always use "one of the two".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "one of the 2" (ideally, "one of the two") functions as a determiner phrase identifying a specific member from a group of two. While grammatically questionable, as shown by Ludwig, its purpose is to single out an item or individual.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

45%

News & Media

40%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "one of the 2" is a grammatically incorrect shorthand for "one of the two". While frequently used, particularly in science and news media, it's advisable to use the complete and correct phrase in formal writing. As Ludwig highlights, adhering to proper grammar enhances clarity and professionalism. Common alternatives include "either of the two" or "one of a pair" for similar meanings. Remember that while this expression is relatively common, correcting to “one of the two” elevates the quality of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

one of the two

This is the grammatically correct version of the phrase.

one of a pair

Emphasizes that the selection is from a set of two.

either of the two

Highlights that either option is valid.

one of those two

Focuses on a specific pair being referenced.

a choice between the two

Highlights the act of selecting between two options.

from the two options

Indicates a selection originating from two possibilities.

selected from the pair

Emphasizes the act of choosing from the two.

part of the couple

More suitable when referring to individuals.

one among the duo

A more formal way to express the selection.

taken from both

Highlights the extraction of one from the specified two.

FAQs

How to use "one of the two" in a sentence?

Use "one of the two" when you want to specify that you are referring to one item or individual from a group of two. For example, "She is "one of the two finalists" in the competition".

Which is correct, "one of the 2" or "one of the two"?

"One of the two" is the grammatically correct phrase. "One of the 2" is missing the word "two" and is considered incorrect in standard written English.

What can I say instead of "one of the two"?

You can use alternatives like "either of the two" or "one of a pair", depending on the context.

Is "one of the two" formal or informal?

"One of the two" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. However, using the complete phrase maintains grammatical correctness in any setting.