a former students

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a former students" is not correct in English.
It should be "a former student" or "former students" depending on the context. You can use it when referring to someone who previously attended a school or institution, but it must be grammatically correct. Example: "As a former student of this university, I can attest to the quality of education provided here."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

As a former students' union president and NUS executive member, I've been on plenty of marches.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

It was a former student of hers, Allyce Wood.

The New York Times - Arts

"He did not seem happy," a former student says.

The New Yorker

On Facebook, a former student, Stanislav Zavlajov, voiced his shock.

The New York Times

The accident killed 11 students and a former student.

The New York Times

'It was a fairly open culture,' says a former student.

The Guardian

As class ended, I saw a former student.

The New York Times - Magazine

Bech encounters Wendell Morrison, a former student of his.

The New Yorker

Anagnos chose Anne Mansfield Sullivan, a former student at Perkins.

The New Yorker

"Don't trust men,"she would say, a former student told an interviewer last year.

The New York Times - Arts

Mentions Arthur Mutambara, a former student dissident who is now the leader of a breakaway M.D.C. faction.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always ensure the noun "student" agrees in number (singular or plural) with the article and context. Use "a former student" for one person and "former students" for multiple people.

Common error

Avoid using "a former students" as it is grammatically incorrect. Always match the singular article "a" with a singular noun.

Linguistic Context

The phrase is intended to function as a noun phrase, modifying an implied subject. However, due to the grammatical error, the phrase is not functional in standard English. Ludwig AI identifies the phrase as incorrect.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The query "a former students" is grammatically incorrect. As highlighted by Ludwig AI, the correct usage depends on the context: "a former student" refers to a single individual, while "former students" refers to multiple individuals. Although the intended meaning is usually clear, it's crucial to use the correct form to maintain grammatical accuracy and credibility. Always ensure the noun agrees in number with any preceding articles or quantifiers. Using the correct singular or plural form will improve the clarity and professionalism of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a former student

Singular form, referring to one past student.

former students

Plural form, referring to multiple past students.

past students

Direct synonym, less common than "former students".

previous students

Similar to "past students", emphasizing the time aspect.

an alumnus

Singular, male graduate, implying a completed course of study.

an alumna

Singular, female graduate, implying a completed course of study.

alumni

Plural, mixed-gender or unspecified graduates.

ex-students

Informal, implying a previous student status.

graduate

Refers to someone who has completed their studies.

old students

Less formal, but may imply students who are no longer young.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say "a former students"?

The correct way is to say either "a former student" if you are referring to one person, or "former students" if you are referring to multiple people. The article "a" requires a singular noun.

Is it ever correct to use the phrase "a former students"?

No, the phrase "a former students" is grammatically incorrect. You must use the singular form "student" with the article "a" as in "a former student".

What are some alternatives to saying "a former student"?

Depending on the context, you could use "an alumnus" (if male), "an alumna" (if female), or "a graduate".

What is the difference between "a former student" and "former students"?

"A former student" refers to a single individual who used to be a student, while "former students" refers to multiple individuals who used to be students. Use the singular or plural form depending on how many people you are talking about.