the two waiting

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "the two waiting" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to two individuals or entities that are in a state of waiting for something or someone. Example: "I saw the two waiting at the bus stop, looking at their watches impatiently."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

Mr Putin kept the two waiting for more than half an hour, and then poured scorn on America's planned missile-defence system in Poland and the Czech Republic.

The Economist

Taken together, the two waiting periods would provide the nation's illegal immigrants with a path to United States citizenship in 13 years, matching the draft of a plan by President Obama to offer full participation in American democracy to millions who are living in fear of deportation.

The New York Times

The time the link spends in one state before changing to the other is exponential, and the ratio between the two waiting times is determined by the long-term packet delivery ratio of the link.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

There are the two waiting rooms: one public and one private.

Vice

All nine surgeons and the two waiting list managers on staff participated.

BMC Health Services Research

After twelve months the two waiting list control groups will sequentially start with PPA CMR.

BMC Family Practice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

The police were called, and the two waited together.

The New York Times

The two waited together for customers to stop for tomatoes or sweet potatoes.

The Guardian

He radioed the tree specialist to return with another plaque, which she did, and the two waited to see what would happen.

The New York Times

Later, as the two waited on Eighth Avenue for a taxicab, they were approached by an undercover officer who asked if they would sell him marijuana.

The New York Times

The second time, the two waited 34 seconds before hanging up and driving to the hospital.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "the two waiting", ensure the context clearly identifies who or what the 'two' refers to, avoiding ambiguity for the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "the two waiting" if the identity of the two entities is not clearly established earlier in the text. Ensure a clear antecedent to prevent confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "the two waiting" functions primarily as a noun phrase, acting as the subject or object within a sentence. It identifies a specific group of two entities engaged in the act of waiting. Ludwig examples show its use in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

10%

Social Media

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "the two waiting" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase that functions as a noun phrase, identifying a pair of entities in a state of anticipation. While categorized as having uncommon frequency, it appears across various contexts like News & Media, Science and Wiki, as shown by Ludwig. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and is best used when the identity of the two entities is clear to the audience. When writing, ensure clarity in pronoun reference and consider alternatives such as "the pair awaiting" for a more formal tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the two who are waiting

Adds a relative clause to clarify the action of waiting.

the pair awaiting

Replaces "two" with "pair" and "waiting" with "awaiting", maintaining the core meaning with slightly more formal diction.

the aforementioned two waiting

Adds 'aforementioned' to specify the two have been mentioned before.

the couple anticipating

Substitutes "two" with "couple" and "waiting" with "anticipating", implying a relationship and expectation.

the identified two waiting

Adds 'identified' to specify the two are known or recognizable.

the duo in expectation

Replaces "two" with "duo" and "waiting" with "in expectation", offering a more stylized and concise expression.

those two standing by

Replaces "waiting" with "standing by", focusing on the physical act of waiting and readiness.

the designated two waiting

Adds 'designated' to specify the two have been appointed.

the two in line

Implies a specific context of waiting in a queue or sequence.

the twosome on standby

Replaces "two" with "twosome" and "waiting" with "on standby", suggesting readiness or availability.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "the two waiting" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using alternatives like "the pair awaiting", "the aforementioned two who are waiting", or "the identified two in expectation depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "the two waiting"?

Yes, "the two waiting" is grammatically correct and functions as a noun phrase. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct.

What is the difference between "the two waiting" and "the two who are waiting"?

"The two waiting" is a more concise phrasing. "The two who are waiting" adds a relative clause for additional emphasis or clarity, but both are generally interchangeable.

In what contexts is "the two waiting" most appropriately used?

"The two waiting" is versatile and can be used in various contexts where you need to refer to a specific pair of entities in a state of anticipation or readiness. News & Media, Science and Wiki are some examples.