these two folks

USAGE SUMMARY

"these two folks" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to two people in the context of a sentence. For example, "I was talking to these two folks at the party last night."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

"Frankly it's a real surprise that these two folks would even be alleged to be in something like this".

The New York Times

People make fun of me, like, "You look like ChrisThese" and I'm like, "no".

Vice

With these two folks at the helm, I'm optimistic the Kings can repeat as champs yet doubtful the Clippers will attain any measure of success.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

These three folks are not shy.

TechCrunch

In terms of stock recommendations, these three folks won top spots among defense and aerospace analysts: J.B. Groh of D.A. Davidson & Co., Troy Lahr of Stifel Nicolaus and Heidi Wood of Morgan Stanley.

Forbes

The majority of these eight folks didn't love the show: two were downright horrified, three didn't like it but appreciated seeing something different, and three offered warm reviews.

Huffington Post

If these three folks found final resting place elsewhere there are still 17 unaccounted for victims: 16 that were executed by hanging and one, Giles Corey, who was pressed to death during his "interrogation".

Huffington Post

If the media universe were fair and balanced (to steal a phrase), this would mean these three folks would be immediately snapped up as commentators on the "liberal network," and given opinion shows where they could continue to make the case to America for their positions and their favored policy ideas.

HuffPost

Read by Sean Barrett crimsoncats.co.uk £9.99, 1hr 20mIfs If you have a cat lover on your gift list, look no further than these eight folk tales from around the world, including Tibet, Romania and Japan.

The Guardian - Books

"These are two folks who don't present the clear contrast that I do," Mr. Santorum charged.

The New York Times

"These are two folks who don't present the clear contrast that I do," Mr. Santorum claimed.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "these two folks" when aiming for a slightly informal and friendly tone when referring to two people.

Common error

Avoid using "these two folks" in highly formal or professional writing. Opt for more neutral terms like "these two people" or "the two individuals".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "these two folks" functions as a determiner phrase modifying a noun, specifying two people. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in English, though its register is important to consider.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "these two folks" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase for referring to two people, particularly in informal or neutral contexts. Ludwig AI indicates its validity, and while it appears mainly in news and media, it's essential to consider the register of your writing and choose a more formal alternative like "these two people" or "the individuals" for professional or academic settings. While the phrase is not very common, it serves its purpose well when a slightly informal tone is desired.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

these two people

Replaces "folks" with the more formal "people".

the two individuals

Uses "individuals" for a slightly more formal tone than "folks".

those two individuals

Uses "those" instead of "these" and "individuals" instead of "folks".

the two parties

Refers to folks in a formal way.

these two characters

Substitutes "folks" with "characters", implying they are part of a story or narrative.

the aforementioned pair

Adds a sense of formality indicating they were mentioned before.

the pair

A more concise way of referring to "these two folks".

the two of them

More informal way to say "these two folks".

the couple

Specifically refers to two people in a relationship.

the duo

Implies that the two people are working together or have a shared purpose.

FAQs

When is it appropriate to use "these two folks"?

Use "these two folks" in informal settings or when you want to create a friendly and approachable tone. It's suitable for casual conversations, blog posts, and narratives where a more relaxed voice is desired.

What are some alternatives to "these two folks" for formal writing?

For formal writing, consider using "these two people", "the two individuals", or "the aforementioned pair". These options maintain clarity while adhering to a more professional tone.

Is "these two folks" grammatically correct?

Yes, "these two folks" is grammatically correct in English. The phrase uses the demonstrative pronoun "these" correctly to refer to two people, and "folks" is a common and acceptable term for people.

How does the meaning of "these two folks" compare to "the couple"?

While both phrases refer to two people, "the couple" specifically implies that the two people are in a romantic relationship or have a close connection. "These two folks" is more general and doesn't necessarily imply any particular relationship between the two people.