the pair

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "the pair" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used when referring to two items or people that are being considered as a unit. For example: "I bought the pair of shoes for a special occasion."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Each day a saint comes by to feed the pair& I draw closerthe shades.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Each day a saint comes by to feed the pair & I draw closer the shades.

The New Yorker

The pair finally draw near to the Louisa, but before they can carry out their plan, the African Queen capsizes.

Britannica

The energy/bandwidth pairs draw different trajectories while the number of nodes N increases.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

The first shot across the bows came in the 2003/04 Champions League, the pair drawn together in the quarter finals.

The Guardian - Sport

The architect pair would draw from Las Vegas casinos like Pop artist Andy Warhol painted Campbell's soup cans.

Vice

Subsequently, each of the Y taxon-pairs draw their remaining sub-parameters from two different sets of sub-priors (Additional file 2D) that differentially characterize the two different histories (H 1 and H 2 ).

BMC Evolutionary Biology

Just below the pair of ovals draw a rectangle with tapered sides.

WikiHow

Scotland's Under-21 side remained a point behind leaders the Netherlands after the pair drew in Euro 2013 qualifying Group 10.

BBC

The area under the ROC curve (AUC) represents the percentage of randomly drawn pairs from the early improvement time point (day 4/week 1) and endpoint (week 3) that were correctly classified, i.e., where early efficacy was predictive of endpoint efficacy.

International Journal of Bipolar Disorders

Moneyfields travel to either Fleet Town or Yate Town in the next round, after the pair drew 1-1.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "the pair" when referring to two distinct items or individuals that are considered together as a unit. This emphasizes their connection or shared characteristic.

Common error

Avoid using singular pronouns (e.g. "it", "its") when referring back to "the pair" if they are individuals. Use plural pronouns (e.g. "they", "them", "their") instead to maintain correct grammatical agreement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "the pair" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject of a sentence. It refers to two items or individuals considered as a single unit. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Science

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "the pair" is a common and grammatically correct noun phrase used to refer to two items or individuals considered as a unit. As Ludwig AI confirms, it follows standard grammatical rules. While its usage spans across various contexts, it's most frequently found in news and media. When using "the pair", ensure pronoun agreement and choose alternative phrases like "the duo" or "the twosome" to add variety to your writing. Being mindful of these aspects will enhance the clarity and precision of your communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the duo

Replaces "pair" with "duo", emphasizing the twosome nature of the entity.

the twosome

Replaces "pair" with a more informal term indicating two people together.

the couple

Specifically refers to two people in a romantic relationship, narrowing the scope.

the two

Simplifies the phrase, focusing on the quantity rather than the unit.

both of them

Emphasizes that the action applies to each member of the group of two.

the matched set

Suitable when referring to items designed to be used together.

the combination

Highlights the joining or linking of the two entities.

the brace

A more formal or archaic term for a pair, often used in hunting contexts.

the dyad

A more technical or sociological term for a pair of individuals.

the twain

An archaic or literary term for two.

FAQs

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

You can use "the pair" to refer to two items or people considered as a unit. For example, "The pair were drawn together in the competition" or "The pair drew attention with their innovative design".

What are some alternatives to using "the pair"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "the duo", "the couple" (if referring to two people in a relationship), or simply "the two".

Is it always appropriate to use "the pair"?

While generally acceptable, "the pair" might sound informal in some contexts. In formal writing, consider more precise terms or rephrasing the sentence to avoid ambiguity or maintain a professional tone.

What's the difference between "the pair" and "a pair"?

"The pair" refers to a specific set of two items or people already identified or understood in the context. "A pair" refers to any set of two items or people.