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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
a prior degrees
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
The phrase "a prior degrees" is not correct in English.
It should be "a prior degree" or "prior degrees" depending on the context. You can use it when referring to educational qualifications obtained before a certain point in time or before pursuing another degree. Example: "Before applying for the master's program, I completed a prior degree in biology."
⚠ May contain grammatical issues
Science
Alternative expressions(1)
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
1 human-written examples
Dispersion was estimated across samples using the estimateGLMTagwiseDisp function in R (following estimateGLMTrendedDisp) such that estimates were squeezed toward the trended dispersion values with a prior degrees of freedom value of 20 (McCarthy et al. 2012).
Science
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
59 human-written examples
A prior degree was not a requirement for admission, yet student outcomes have been equivalent to or have exceeded those of the traditional students.
22 % of the students had a prior degree in nursing.
Science
All students held a prior degree, including degrees in Pharmacy, Engineering, Law, Science, Dentistry and Business.
Science
Possession of a prior degree was recorded as a surrogate for maturity.
Science
In another study, having a prior degree also increased the co-cooperativeness, goal orientation and achieving motive.
Graduate entrants hold a prior degree, while the majority of Direct entrants are school leavers, with a small number of Mature (>23 years) students.
On the Fries Krishnan view, she ought to have a prior degree of belief in favour of the new product's effectiveness.
The stronger academic performance of GPEP students may be attributed to greater maturity in this group, rather than the benefits of having a prior degree [ 9].
Science
Four variables were not significantly associated with preparedness; attending a medical school with a problem-based learning course; possessing a prior degree; and feeling supported by senior colleagues and nursing staff.
Science
The significant relationship between age or a prior degree and initial levels of confidence in patient communication skills, may indicate that interpersonal communication is a generic skill acquired through life experience and transferable to professional situations.
Science
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
When discussing academic prerequisites, ensure grammatical correctness by using "a prior degree" for singular or "prior degrees" for plural references.
Common error
Be mindful of subject-verb agreement; using "degrees" incorrectly can suggest multiple unspecified qualifications instead of a specific prior degree.
Source & Trust
84%
Authority and reliability
2.8/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "a prior degrees" is typically intended to function as a noun phrase, modifying another noun by specifying previous academic qualifications. As Ludwig AI confirms, however, the grammatically correct forms are either singular "a prior degree" or plural "prior degrees".
Frequent in
Science
100%
Less common in
News & Media
0%
Formal & Business
0%
Wiki
0%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
In summary, the phrase "a prior degrees" is grammatically incorrect. The correct forms are "a prior degree" (singular) or "prior degrees" (plural). As per Ludwig AI analysis, it is essential to use the correct form to maintain clarity and grammatical accuracy, especially in formal and scientific writing. The phrase aims to communicate that someone possesses previous academic qualifications, and using the right grammatical structure ensures that the message is conveyed effectively. It's most common in the scientific context and is considered rare overall.
More alternative expressions(10)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
earlier degree
Uses simpler language to refer to a degree obtained at an earlier time.
earlier qualifications
General term for any qualifications obtained at a prior time.
previous academic qualifications
Focuses specifically on academic achievements obtained earlier in one's educational journey.
prior level of education
Highlights the level of education completed previously.
prior academic experience
Highlights experience gained in academic settings before a certain point.
previous educational attainment
Emphasizes the level of education achieved before a particular stage.
existing degree
Refers to a degree someone already holds.
undergraduate qualifications
Specifically refers to qualifications obtained at the undergraduate level.
prior learning
Focuses on the knowledge and skills acquired before a formal educational program.
advanced standing
Refers to the academic credit awarded for prior learning or qualifications.
FAQs
How do I correctly refer to previous academic qualifications?
Use "a prior degree" for a single, unspecified degree or "prior degrees" when referring to multiple degrees. For example, "Applicants must hold "a prior degree" in a related field" or "Candidates with "prior degrees" may be given preference".
What is the difference between "a prior degree" and "prior degrees"?
"A prior degree" refers to a single, previously obtained degree, while "prior degrees" indicates multiple degrees earned before the current context. It is very important to check if the context requires singular or plural form.
Is it correct to say "a prior degrees"?
No, the correct phrasing is "a prior degree" (singular) or "prior degrees" (plural), depending on whether you are referring to one or more previous degrees.
What are some alternatives to saying "a prior degree"?
Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "previous degree", "an earlier degree", or "existing degree".
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Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
84%
Authority and reliability
2.8/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested