a strong alumni

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a strong alumni" is not correct in English.
The term "alumni" is plural, so it should be used with a plural verb or adjective. You can use it when referring to a group of graduates, but it should be phrased as "strong alumni" without the article "a." Example: "The university is proud of its strong alumni who have made significant contributions to their fields."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Like many other professionals in her role, however, she says that she has come to realize the other benefits of a strong alumni program.

The New York Times

The president of Emory, James W. Wagner, said in an open letter that he was "deeply disappointed," but added that "Emory is a great institution, with great faculty, staff, and students, and a strong alumni network".

The New York Times

"We have a strong alumni network!" boast colleges, which translates to, "We have alumni!" You work on maintaining eye contact.

Science Magazine

Mucker Lab similarly distinguished itself with high alumni satisfaction and fundraising numbers, while Techstars is particularly successful in the valuations and firm survival categories, with a strong alumni network also in play for its graduates.

TechCrunch

It can become a quagmire for new presidents, especially when a strong alumni presence on the board and among staff predates the new president's arrival by a generation.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

IMD gives us access to an impressive list of companies through the on-campus recruitment programme and an amazingly strong alumni network, but everything else is up to us.

The Economist

Like a number of Swim Strong alumni, Mr. Belmont decided to give back by volunteering as an instructor.

The New York Times

For instance, if you are interested in a particular area, you should research things such as a list of schools with relevant programming/coursework and strong alumni contacts when deciding where to attend, as well as geographic locations, prospective job growth, types of positions (i.e., internships and paid jobs) available, information from professionals in these areas, etc.

Huffington Post

Campaigns can start small, according to Future First: an ambitious appeal for a new science block won't work anyway without strong alumni connections nurtured over time.

The Guardian

At highly selective institutions with strong alumni support, legacies have always been a critical building block.

Huffington Post

"This does speak to the very strong alumni network that we have.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To avoid grammatical errors, consider using alternatives like "a robust alumni network" or "a supportive alumni base".

Common error

Avoid using the article "a" before "alumni" when intending to describe multiple former students as "alumni" is already a plural noun. Use alternatives or rephrase the sentence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a strong alumni" functions as a noun phrase aiming to describe a group of graduates with the adjective "strong". However, as Ludwig AI indicates, the term "alumni" is plural, rendering the use of the indefinite article "a" grammatically incorrect.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "a strong alumni" attempts to describe a supportive and engaged group of former students, Ludwig AI notes that it is grammatically incorrect due to the mismatch between the singular article "a" and the plural noun "alumni". It's better to use the phrase "strong alumni" or alternative phrases like "a robust alumni network" or "a supportive alumni base" for greater clarity and grammatical accuracy. Although the phrase appears in several contexts, primarily in news and media, using grammatically sound alternatives enhances the writing quality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a robust alumni network

Emphasizes the network aspect and its health/strength.

a supportive alumni base

Focuses on the support provided by the alumni.

an engaged alumni community

Highlights the active participation of alumni.

a dedicated alumni group

Stresses the commitment of the alumni.

a thriving alumni association

Suggests the alumni association is active and successful.

a powerful alumni presence

Highlights the influence alumni have.

well-connected alumni

Focuses on alumni relationships with each other and the institution

influential alumni network

Highlights alumni influence and how this is linked and organized.

active alumni

Focuses on the level of activity that the alumni exhibit.

giving alumni

Highlights their support through donations.

FAQs

What's wrong with the phrase "a strong alumni"?

The term "alumni" is plural, so it should be used without the article "a". The correct phrasing would be "strong alumni". Alternatively, you can use a singular noun like "a strong alumni network".

What can I say instead of "a strong alumni"?

You can use alternatives like "a robust alumni network", "a supportive alumni base", or "an engaged alumni community" depending on the context.

How to use "strong alumni" in a sentence?

You can use "strong alumni" to describe a group of graduates who are supportive and engaged with their alma mater. For example: "The university's success is due in part to its strong alumni."

What's the difference between "alumnus", "alumna", and "alumni"?

"Alumnus" refers to a single male graduate, "alumna" refers to a single female graduate, and "alumni" is the plural form referring to a group of graduates of either or mixed genders.