both college

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "both college" is not correct and usable in written English as it lacks context and clarity.
It may be intended to refer to two colleges, but it needs additional information to convey a complete thought. Example: "Both colleges offer excellent programs in engineering."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Both college professors, they look like peas in a pod.

The New York Times

Television ratings for both college and pro ball are down.

The New York Times

(The Coens' parents are both college professors in Minneapolis).

The New York Times

The practice has spanned the coasts, many sports, and both college and professional ranks.

The New York Times

Both college campuses will erupt with undeniable emotion in support of their team.

The New York Times

That experience forever changed the way I look at both college and professional football.

The New York Times - Sports

But he had difficult adjustments to both college and professional football.

The New York Times

Of course they were required for admission to both college and, later, graduate school.

The New York Times

Marriage has declined precipitously among young women, both college graduates and women with less education.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

The brothers' parents were both college-educated professional musicians.

Encyclopedia Britannica

My husband and I are both college-educated with master's degrees.

The New York Times - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure the phrase "both college" is followed by a noun or a clause that completes the thought, like "both college campuses" or "both college and university". This provides necessary context and makes the sentence grammatically correct.

Common error

Avoid using "both college" as a standalone phrase. Always follow it with a completing element that specifies what you are referring to. Without this, the phrase lacks clarity and is grammatically incomplete.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "both college" typically functions as a determiner phrase requiring a noun to follow it to clarify the intended meaning. According to Ludwig AI analysis, the phrase needs additional information to be grammatically sound. Examples often include completing the phrase with "students" or a conjunction phrase like "and university".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Science

19%

Encyclopedias

4%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Formal & Business

3%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "both college" appears frequently in various sources, Ludwig AI advises that it is often grammatically incomplete without additional context. The phrase requires a noun or a clause to complete the thought and clarify the intended meaning, as in "both college students" or "both college and university". The most common contexts for this phrase are News & Media and Science, and to a lesser extent, Encyclopedias. It's important to ensure the phrase is used in a way that provides necessary clarity and grammatical correctness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

both colleges

Plural form indicating more than one college.

both universities

Replaces "college" with the synonym "university".

both the college and

Adds a definite article and completion to indicate a complete thought.

both higher education institutions

Replaces "college" with a more formal term.

the two colleges

Uses a numerical adjective to specify two colleges.

both institutions of higher learning

A more elaborate way to refer to colleges.

both academic institutions

Uses the adjective academic for a college.

college for both

Changes the order of the words in the phrase.

both in college

Add preposition in order to create a better phrase.

both studying at college

Indicates action in college.

FAQs

How can I properly use "both college" in a sentence?

To use "both college" correctly, follow it with a noun or phrase that completes the idea. For example, "both college students" or "both college and university" provides necessary context.

What are some alternatives to using "both college"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "both universities", "the two colleges", or "both higher education institutions".

Is it correct to say "both college" without additional context?

Generally, no. "Both college" requires additional context to be grammatically correct. It should be followed by a noun or clause to clarify what you are referring to, such as "both college campuses".

What's the difference between "both college" and "both colleges"?

"Both college" is incomplete and requires a noun to follow it, while "both colleges" is a complete phrase referring to two or more institutions. Using "both colleges" implies you are speaking about two specific colleges.