a classmate of mine

USAGE SUMMARY

'a classmate of mine' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to refer to someone you know who is in the same class as you, either at school or in a course or activity. For example, "My friend and a classmate of mine are planning to start a business together."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

34 human-written examples

Caro was a classmate of mine at Princeton.

The New York Times - Magazine

Afterward, I ran into someone who'd been a classmate of mine when I was eleven.

The New Yorker

Hessler was a classmate of mine in college, and for a while I was his editor here.

The New Yorker

Ian, Jr., was a classmate of mine, and didn't seem bothered by the jokes about his father.

The New Yorker

She was a classmate of mine at Yale law school and I hope we learned something while we were there.

The Guardian - Business

Nick, a classmate of mine, pointed out this interesting use of Google My Maps for disaster reporting by KPBS News in San Diego.

University of California, Berkeley

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

26 human-written examples

On any given night, there's a good chance a former classmate of mine is performing somewhere in the New York area.

The New York Times

One day our manager, who was also a sample girl and a former classmate of mine, asked us how it was going.

Vice

He's a former classmate of mine who has built a great career as an onboarding expert; he's also a Forbes contributor.

Forbes

Jordan Strebeck, a former classmate of mine, keeps for himself a call list similar to the sort that politicians have to dial donors.

Harvard Business Review

Reading the obituary of Christopher Ma, a Washington Post executive who had been a college classmate of mine, I was especially sad to see that Chris was survived by his wife, a daughter, a son, a brother, two sisters and "his mother, Margaret Ma of Menlo Park, Calif".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a classmate of mine", ensure the context makes it clear to which class or educational setting you are referring, especially if you've attended multiple schools or courses.

Common error

Avoid mixing up "a classmate of mine" with phrases like "a my classmate", which is grammatically incorrect. Always use the possessive pronoun "mine" after the "of" preposition to correctly indicate the relationship.

Linguistic Context

The phrase functions as a post-modified noun phrase, where "classmate" is the noun and "of mine" acts as a post-modifier indicating possession or association. This phrase is used to identify someone as being in the same class as the speaker, as supported by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Academia

35%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a classmate of mine" is a commonly used and grammatically correct phrase to describe someone who shares or has shared a class with you. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is suitable for various contexts, including news, academia and general conversation. While some alternatives like "a fellow student" exist, "a classmate of mine" offers a balanced level of formality and clarity, as evidenced by its frequent appearance in reputable sources. Remember to use the correct possessive form and ensure clarity regarding the specific class you're referencing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a schoolmate of mine

Replaces 'classmate' with 'schoolmate', broadening the context from a single class to the entire school environment.

a student in my class

A simpler and more direct way of stating the relationship.

someone I went to school with

Uses a more descriptive phrase to convey the same relationship, focusing on shared schooling rather than class.

a fellow student of mine

Replaces 'classmate' with 'fellow student', highlighting the shared experience of being a student.

someone from my class

An even more concise way to refer to someone who was in the same class.

a contemporary from my class

Emphasizes that the person was in the same class during the same time period.

a peer from my class

Highlights that the classmate is of similar standing or age.

a member of my graduating class

Specifies that the person graduated in the same year.

one of my former classmates

Indicates that the person was a classmate in the past, but not necessarily currently.

an acquaintance from class

Indicates a less close relationship with the person.

FAQs

How can I use "a classmate of mine" in a sentence?

Use "a classmate of mine" to refer to someone who attends or attended the same class as you. For example, "A classmate of mine is also applying for this scholarship."

What is a more formal way to say "a classmate of mine"?

While "a classmate of mine" is suitable for most contexts, you could use "a fellow student" or "a member of my class" in more formal situations.

Is it correct to say "a my classmate" instead of "a classmate of mine"?

No, "a my classmate" is grammatically incorrect. The correct phrasing is "a classmate of mine", which uses the possessive pronoun "mine".

What's the difference between "a classmate of mine" and "my classmate"?

"A classmate of mine" implies that the person is one of several classmates you have, while "my classmate" suggests a more specific or emphasized connection.