an exceptional student

USAGE SUMMARY

"an exceptional student" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase to describe someone who is particularly talented or successful in some aspect of student life, such as academics, sports, or extracurriculars. For example, "John has always been an exceptional student, getting top marks in all his classes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

24 human-written examples

Nevertheless Harry was an exceptional student.

The Guardian

He was not an exceptional student, but he was deeply interested in natural history.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Richard Hellawell, her former tutor at the school, described her as an "exceptional student".

The Guardian

He studied law in Baghdad and Cairo, but was not an exceptional student.

The Guardian

We implement a banded fee system guided by our absolute commitment to delivering an exceptional student experience.

The Guardian

Very quickly Gjöres realised that Bendjelloul was not just a former child star, but an exceptional student, and they formed an abiding friendship.

The Guardian - Film

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

36 human-written examples

Valeria Osorio Garcia, of Cartagena, Columbia, is an exceptional student-athlete and Davis International Scholar at the Westminster School in Simsbury, Connecticut.

HuffPost

He remembered his pupil as "a fairly exceptional student," pleasant and personable enough, liked and trusted sufficiently to be made head of his school house and a school monitor.

The New York Times

I had a few exceptional students, and those were the ones who received A's.

Los Angeles Times

At the same time, almost 40percentt of high school students enroll in AP courses, meaning it is no longer true that only a few, exceptional students take them.

The Washington Post

Slahi was an exceptional school student.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "an exceptional student" when you want to emphasize that a student significantly surpasses typical expectations in one or more areas, such as academics, leadership, or creativity.

Common error

Avoid using "an exceptional student" in situations where the student's performance is merely adequate or slightly above average. Reserve it for cases where there is clear and demonstrable evidence of outstanding achievement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an exceptional student" functions as a descriptive noun phrase. It combines the indefinite article "an", the adjective "exceptional" modifying the noun "student". Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Academia

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "an exceptional student" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to describe a student who significantly surpasses typical expectations. Ludwig AI confirms its wide applicability across various contexts, particularly in news, academic, and business environments. It's important to use this phrase judiciously, reserving it for instances where a student's achievements are demonstrably outstanding. Alternatives like "a remarkable student" or "an outstanding student" can provide nuanced ways to express similar meanings, ensuring precision and impact in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a remarkable student

Replaces "exceptional" with "remarkable", emphasizing the student's noteworthiness.

an outstanding student

Substitutes "exceptional" with "outstanding", highlighting the student's superior performance.

a gifted student

Emphasizes the student's natural talent or aptitude.

a high-achieving student

Focuses on the student's accomplishments and academic success.

a top-performing student

Highlights the student's position relative to their peers.

an accomplished student

Emphasizes the student's skills and completed achievements.

a brilliant student

Highlights the student's intelligence and quick-thinking abilities.

a prodigious student

Suggests the student has abilities beyond their years.

a talented student

Highlights the student's natural aptitude in a specific area.

a meritorious student

Emphasizes the student's deserving nature and high standards.

FAQs

How can I use "an exceptional student" in a sentence?

You can use "an exceptional student" to describe someone who performs at a very high level. For example, "She is "an exceptional student" in mathematics and science".

What is a more formal alternative to "an exceptional student"?

A more formal alternative could be "a high-achieving student" or "an outstanding student", depending on the specific context.

What's the difference between "an exceptional student" and "a good student"?

"An exceptional student" implies performance far beyond the norm, while "a good student" simply suggests satisfactory or above-average performance.

When is it appropriate to describe someone as "an exceptional student"?

It's appropriate when the student demonstrates significantly above-average abilities, consistently achieves high grades, and exhibits remarkable qualities such as leadership, creativity, or problem-solving skills.