at commencement

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "at commencement" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to the beginning or start of an event, particularly formal occasions like ceremonies or programs. Example: "The keynote speaker will address the audience at commencement to inspire the graduates."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Rather, they said, they objected to him speaking at commencement.

The New York Times

Blink twice and you will be at commencement.

The Economist

ACROSS the state this month, Gradspeak fertilized the Garden State at commencement after commencement.

The New York Times

– a risky venture backing one at commencement of election (fire rays; dare (rev).

The Guardian

Whoever does that automatically receives an honorary doctorate at commencement the following day.

The New York Times

Mr. and Mrs. Underwood, both 27, met at commencement at Brown University in 1998.

The New York Times - Style

The university presented the Dubowskis with their daughter's degree at commencement ceremonies last spring.

The New York Times

Mr. Kerrey said he did not plan to make a speech at commencement.

The New York Times

Recipients of honorary degrees at John Jay typically address students at commencement.

The New York Times

Her popularity was increased by her appearance at commencement ceremonies at Wellesley College in June 1990.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"Malia's school asked if I wanted to speak at commencement and I said no.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "at commencement", ensure the context clearly indicates a graduation ceremony or the beginning of an important event. For example, "The president delivered an inspiring speech at commencement."

Common error

Avoid using "at commencement" when referring to events only tangentially related to graduation. If an event happens near graduation time but isn't part of the ceremony, consider alternatives like "around graduation time" or "during the graduation season".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at commencement" functions primarily as a prepositional phrase indicating the time or occasion when an event occurs. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread use. It commonly modifies verbs or nouns to specify the temporal context related to a graduation ceremony or the start of a significant event.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

25%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

2%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the prepositional phrase "at commencement" is a grammatically sound and very common way to indicate that something occurs during a graduation ceremony or the start of an important event. As affirmed by Ludwig AI, its usage is widespread across various sources, including news, science, and encyclopedias. It's important to use the phrase when the event is directly related to the ceremony or start and to consider alternatives like "during the graduation ceremony" or "upon graduation" when the context requires more precision. Therefore, "at commencement" is a useful phrase that enriches writers vocabulary.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

during the graduation ceremony

Specifies the time frame more explicitly.

upon graduation

Focuses on the act of graduating as the point of reference.

at the graduation exercises

Uses a more formal term for the graduation ceremony.

on graduation day

Emphasizes the specific day of the graduation.

as part of the commencement ceremony

Highlights the inclusion of something within the ceremony.

in conjunction with the graduation

Suggests a close association with the graduation event.

at the start of graduation

Emphasizes the beginning of the graduation event.

in connection with commencement

General reference to relationship between two events/activities

surrounding commencement

Highlights the context and auxiliary events that may be taking place before or after commencement

concerning the opening

Highlights the action that has been opened

FAQs

What does "at commencement" mean?

"At commencement" typically refers to something happening during a graduation ceremony or the beginning of a significant event. It sets a specific timeframe for an action or occurrence.

How to use "at commencement" in a sentence?

You can use "at commencement" to specify when an event takes place during a graduation ceremony. For example, "The university president awarded honorary degrees "at commencement"."

What are some alternatives to saying "at commencement"?

Alternatives include "during the graduation ceremony", "upon graduation", or "on graduation day". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "in commencement" instead of "at commencement"?

No, the correct preposition to use is "at". Saying "in commencement" is grammatically incorrect in this context. Use ""at commencement"" to indicate an event occurring during a graduation ceremony.