pair of letters

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "pair of letters" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to two specific letters, often in the context of a combination or set of characters. Example: "In the word 'apple', the pair of letters 'p' appears twice."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

29 human-written examples

Another pair of letters landed a few blocks away.

The New York Times

On March 8, the couple got another pair of letters.

The New York Times

2. Hitler letters A pair of letters from Hitler to a young admirer Klara Jung.

Independent

The subjects were asked to determine if a pair of letters flashing on a screen were the same or different.

The New York Times - Health

The trio appeared upbeat about a pair of letters sent to Fahmy and Greste's families this week by Egypt's interim president, Adly Mansour.

The Guardian

In the ceiling of the lobby of the main post office on Eighth Avenue in Midtown, there is a huge pair of letters, "RF," in the mosaic.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

31 human-written examples

Elkamere uses the same pairs-of-letters trick, this time those of my nieces in Canada.

The Guardian

Of the three billion pairs of "letters" that make up the human genetic code, genes account for less than 2%.

The Guardian

Drayton's most original poems of this period are Englands Heroicall Epistles (1597), a series of pairs of letters exchanged between famous lovers in English history.

Encyclopedia Britannica

You'll have to double up some of the repeating pairs of letters, like so: FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE".

The New York Times

He initiated the use of electromagnets in electric generators and invented the Playfair cipher, which is based on substituting different pairs of letters for paired letters in the message.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing genetic codes or cryptography, "pair of letters" is precise. Use it to clearly indicate two specific letters are being considered as a unit.

Common error

Avoid using "pair of letters" when you specifically mean two identical letters next to each other. "Double letters" is more appropriate in such cases, for example, 'oo' in "book" are "double letters", but 'bo' is simply a "pair of letters".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "pair of letters" functions as a noun phrase, typically acting as a subject, object, or complement within a sentence. As Ludwig AI shows, it refers to two letters considered together as a unit.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

47%

Encyclopedias

14%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "pair of letters" is a common noun phrase used to refer to two letters considered as a unit. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and suitable for a variety of contexts, particularly in science, news, and encyclopedic content. It is important to remember not to confuse this term with "double letters" which specify that the same letter is repeated. Alternative phrases include "letter combination" or "couple of letters". This phrase appears in diverse domains from genetic code discussions to cryptographic explanations, affirming its versatility and consistent applicability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

couple of characters

Replaces "letters" with "characters", broadening the scope to include non-letter symbols but maintaining the "two" concept.

two letters

Simplifies the phrase by directly stating the quantity, omitting the word "pair".

set of two letters

Emphasizes that the two letters are considered as a set, implying a specific grouping.

letter combination

Focuses on the result of pairing letters, which is the combination they form.

dyad of letters

Uses a more formal term, 'dyad', to indicate a pair, suitable for technical or academic contexts.

two-letter sequence

Focuses on the sequential aspect of the letters, which may not always be relevant.

brace of letters

Replaces “pair” with “brace”, which is another term used to describe two items.

twin letters

Suggests a correspondence or similarity between the two letters, which isn't always the case.

alphabetical duo

Highlights the letters' belonging to the alphabet and their existence as a duo or pair.

double letters

Implies the same letter is being repeated, reducing the general applicability.

FAQs

How can I use "pair of letters" in a sentence?

You can use "pair of letters" to refer to two letters that appear together, such as "The code requires a specific "pair of letters" at the beginning" or "The word starts with a consonant "pair of letters"".

What's a good substitute for "pair of letters"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "letter combination", "two letters", or "sequence of letters".

Is it correct to say "couple of letters" instead of "pair of letters"?

Yes, "couple of letters" is a valid and commonly used alternative to "pair of letters", though "pair" might be slightly more formal in some contexts.

In genetics, is "pair of letters" the same as a base pair?

While both involve letters, a ""pair of letters"" generally refers to any two letters, while a base pair in genetics specifically refers to two nucleobases (A-T, C-G) that form a rung on the DNA ladder. Thus, a base pair is a specific type of ""pair of letters"", but not all pairs of letters are base pairs.