a regular student

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase “a regular student” is correct and usable in written English.
For example, you could use it in a sentence such as “John is a regular student at our school.”.

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

36 human-written examples

So you're just a regular student, I say.

The Guardian

I wouldn't have gotten into this school if I wasn't a regular student".

The New York Times - Sports

As high as the tuition is, I probably wouldn't be able to go here as a regular student.

The New York Times - Magazine

A regular student canopy might be 280 square feet, while a swooping canopy could be 120 square feet or smaller.

The New York Times - Sports

She is grateful that her son goes to school like a regular student, and says that he seems happy most of the time.

The New York Times

A hybrid student is non-distinguishable from a regular student once they come to campus in the Spring Semester.

Columbia University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

24 human-written examples

Finally the long road towards gaining employment and becoming a regular student-debt-paying young adult had come true.

Huffington Post

He embraced his outsider status, writing a regular student-newspaper column called "The Masked Democrat," arguing for things like social welfare, abortion rights and why Bill Clinton might not be such a bad guy.

Huffington Post

A gay regular student that attends CCHS".

Huffington Post

An example for a newer, less regular student would be to make a date to go to a class and follow through.

The Washington Post

As a literacy tutor, in once a week, my regular student absent, I had the chance to figure.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a regular student" to emphasize that the person is attending school in a typical manner, without special accommodations or circumstances. For example, "Despite his fame, he wanted to be treated like a regular student."

Common error

Avoid using "a regular student" when you actually mean a student who attends classes frequently. In such cases, "a frequent student" or "a consistent attendee" would be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a regular student" functions as a noun phrase, specifically an adjective modifying the noun "student". Ludwig shows that this phrase is commonly used to describe someone enrolled in a standard educational program, distinguishing them from students with special status or circumstances.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Academia

35%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a regular student" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to describe someone enrolled in a typical educational program. According to Ludwig, it often serves to emphasize the normalcy of a student's situation or to distinguish them from students with unique circumstances. While frequently found in academic and news contexts, it maintains a neutral register suitable for broad communication. Remember that using alternatives such as ""an ordinary student"" or "a typical student" can add nuance depending on the intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an ordinary student

Replaces 'regular' with 'ordinary', emphasizing the typical nature of the student.

a typical student

Substitutes 'regular' with 'typical', highlighting the common characteristics of the student.

a standard student

Uses 'standard' instead of 'regular', focusing on the conformity to established norms.

a normal student

Employs 'normal' to convey the absence of any special circumstances.

a full-time student

Specifies 'full-time' replacing 'regular', focusing on their enrollment status.

an average student

Replaces 'regular' with 'average', implying the student's performance level.

a mainstream student

Uses 'mainstream' instead of 'regular', focusing on the student being part of the conventional education system.

a traditional student

Substitutes 'regular' with 'traditional', emphasizing the conventional approach to education.

a degree-seeking student

Focuses on the purpose of enrollment, highlighting the pursuit of a degree.

an enrolled student

Emphasizes the act of being enrolled in an educational institution.

FAQs

What does "a regular student" mean?

The term "a regular student" typically refers to an individual who is enrolled in a standard educational program, without special accommodations or non-degree seeking status. They follow the normal curriculum and requirements.

How to use "a regular student" in a sentence?

You can use "a regular student" to describe someone who is attending school in a typical manner. For example, "She wanted to be treated like "an ordinary student", despite her unique circumstances."

What can I say instead of "a regular student"?

You can use alternatives like "a typical student", ""an ordinary student"", or "a standard student" depending on the context.

What's the difference between "a regular student" and "a non-traditional student"?

A "regular student" follows a conventional path of education, whereas a non-traditional student may be older, have work experience, or attend school part-time. The key difference lies in their life circumstances and approach to education.