alma mater

USAGE SUMMARY

"alma mater" is a perfectly acceptable phrase in written English.
It is used to refer to a person's educational institution or school. For example, "John always spoke highly of his alma mater, Harvard University."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

"It's my alma mater".

The New York Times

Chastain credits her alma mater.

The New York Times

State, his alma mater.

The New York Times - Sports

He went to my alma mater.

The New York Times - Sports

Alma mater: University of California.

The Guardian - Music

It is his alma mater.

The New York Times

Alma mater: University College London.

The Guardian - Music

"My alma mater," Everhart said.

The New York Times - Sports

It is also Justice Thomas's alma mater.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

Hail O dig'tal Alma Mater, now called e-Cornell.

The New York Times

The official school song is entitled "Hail, Alma Mater".

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "alma mater" when you want to formally or affectionately refer to the school, college, or university from which someone graduated or attended. It adds a touch of tradition and respect to the reference.

Common error

Avoid using "alma maters" when referring to a single individual. "Alma mater" is singular, referring to one's specific school. To refer to multiple alumni's schools, you should rephrase or specify (e.g., "the alma maters of the alumni").

Linguistic Context

The phrase "alma mater" functions as a noun, specifically a common noun, denoting an institution from which someone has graduated or attended. According to Ludwig AI, this usage is grammatically correct and widely accepted.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Wiki

17%

Science

16%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "alma mater" is a common and grammatically correct way to refer to the school, college, or university from which someone graduated or attended. According to Ludwig AI, its usage is accepted and widespread. Predominantly found in News & Media, it serves to formally identify an educational institution, often with a tone of respect or nostalgia. When using "alma mater", remember that it's singular. While there are alternatives like "graduating institution", "former school", or "university of origin", "alma mater" carries a certain weight and tradition that other phrases might lack.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

graduating institution

Focuses on the act of graduation and the institution from which someone graduated.

former school

A more general term that simply refers to a school that someone attended in the past.

university of origin

Emphasizes the institution as the starting point of one's academic or professional journey.

school of graduation

Highlights the school where one completed their studies and received a degree.

college attended

Refers to the college that someone attended, without necessarily implying graduation.

institution of higher learning

A more formal and general term for a university or college.

academic home

Implies a strong sense of belonging and connection to the institution.

place of education

A broad term referring to any institution where education is received.

old school

An informal way to refer to one's former school, often used affectionately.

my old college

Indicates one's former college with affection.

FAQs

What does "alma mater" mean?

"Alma mater" refers to the school, college, or university from which someone has graduated or attended.

How do I use "alma mater" in a sentence?

You can use "alma mater" to refer to the institution itself (e.g., "My "alma mater" is known for its engineering program.") or to describe someone's relationship to it (e.g., "She is a proud alumna of her "alma mater".").

What is another way to say "alma mater"?

Alternatives include "graduating institution", "former school", or "university of origin" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "alma maters" when referring to multiple people's schools?

While grammatically unusual, it's better to rephrase. For example, use "the alma maters of the alumni" to clearly convey that you are referring to the schools of multiple individuals.