a term of school

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a term of school" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to refer to a specific period or duration within an academic year, but the phrasing is awkward and unclear. Example: "The school year is divided into two terms, each lasting approximately six months."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

My daughter does a term of school here each year.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

This is a worthy initiative at a time when the word has become a term of abuse in school playgrounds but it is particularly important during a recession when hostility towards refugees and migrants, in general, peaks.

The Guardian - Opinion

Britten told Ford that he had "for some months or a year vaguely been thinking of doing something with the [Chester] miracle plays", and agreed to write an opera for A-R's 1958 summer term of school programmes.

Wikipedia

And this is what we get for the dehumanising influence of allowing "gay" to remain a term of abuse in schools.

The Guardian - Opinion

In the autumn of 2013 I was in my first term of school in a decade.

The Guardian

In my last term of school I took a visual rhetoric course.

Huffington Post

IT'S the start of the second term of school.

The Economist

The government of the "sage"—a term common to all schools of Chinese thought but which is given a distinctive Daoist meaning in the commentary rests on the same premise.

SEP

"This is not an expansion in terms of school size, but to allow us to have more flexibility," Mr. Watters said.

The New York Times

At the same time, the numbers show a huge increase in terms of school security measures and training over the years.

Huffington Post

Local authorities need an oversight role in terms of school place planning, admissions, standards and exclusions.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to a specific academic period, use the more common and grammatically sound phrases such as "school term" or "academic term".

Common error

Do not use "a term of school" as it is uncommon and can sound unnatural. Instead, opt for clearer alternatives like "school term" or "academic term" to ensure your writing is precise and easily understood.

Linguistic Context

The phrase functions as a noun phrase, attempting to denote a period within a school year. However, it's considered grammatically awkward, as noted by Ludwig AI, which suggests alternative phrasings.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Science

32%

Wiki

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

7%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "a term of school" is understandable, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically awkward and uncommon. More appropriate and widely accepted alternatives include "school term" or "academic term". Ludwig examples show occurrences in news, wiki and scientific contexts, but its infrequency suggests avoiding it in formal writing to maintain clarity and precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

school term

Omits the indefinite article "a", resulting in a more direct and grammatically standard phrase.

academic term

Specifies the context as academic, adding clarity and formality.

semester at school

Uses "semester" instead of "term", offering a different but related time division in education.

period of schooling

Emphasizes the duration within education, rather than a specific named term.

school semester

Combines "school" and "semester" to clearly indicate an academic division.

term in school

Reorders the words slightly, changing the emphasis but retaining the core meaning.

school quarter

Uses "quarter" instead of "term", indicating another type of academic time division.

academic year period

Specifies "academic year" to give a broader time frame.

school session

Replaces "term" with "session", implying a set time for classes or activities.

part of the school year

Generalizes the phrase to indicate any portion of the school year.

FAQs

What is the correct way to refer to a period in a school year?

The correct way to refer to a period in a school year is to use phrases like "school term" or "academic term".

Is "a term of school" grammatically correct?

While understandable, the phrase "a term of school" is not grammatically standard. It's better to use "school term" or "an academic term".

What are some alternatives to saying "a term of school"?

Alternatives include "school semester", "academic year period", or "period of schooling", depending on the specific context.

Which is the more formal way to say "a term of school", if any?

The more formal way is to use "academic term". This phrasing is commonly used in academic and professional contexts.