completed high school

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'completed high school' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a person who has graduated from high school, often in the recent past. For example, "Last year, he completed high school and is now deciding what he wants to do next."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Mr. Liu completed high school.

The New York Times

Livingston never completed high school.

The New York Times - Sports

Many haven't completed high school".

The Guardian

Mallali had completed high school in Kabul and Iran.

The Economist

He completed high school in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

The New Yorker

He added: "Many haven't completed high school.

The Guardian

He later completed high school by attending night classes.

The New York Times - Sports

She completed high school and was accepted to Duke.

The New York Times

She completed high school, came to New York and obtained a certificate from secretarial school.

The New York Times - Sports

Her family eventually settled in Tanzania, Africa, where she completed high school.

The New York Times

He supposedly completed high school, but has poor reading and writing skills.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about educational attainment, consider your audience. Use "completed high school" in general contexts. In more formal settings, use "obtained a high school diploma" or "completed secondary education".

Common error

Be precise about educational qualifications. Ensure that "completed high school" is not mistakenly used when referring to GEDs or other alternative certifications, as these are not precisely the same.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "completed high school" functions primarily as a descriptor indicating that someone has successfully finished their secondary education. This phrase is often used to provide background information about a person's educational qualifications, as demonstrated in the examples found by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "completed high school" is a grammatically correct and widely used phrase to indicate that someone has finished their secondary education. Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability in diverse contexts, ranging from news reports to scientific articles. While alternatives like "graduated from high school" or "obtained a high school diploma" exist, the choice depends on the desired level of formality and emphasis. Understanding its function, purpose, and appropriate usage helps in clear and effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

finished high school

Emphasizes the act of finishing or concluding high school.

graduated from high school

Specifically refers to the graduation ceremony and the formal awarding of a diploma.

obtained a high school diploma

Highlights the achievement of receiving the diploma, focusing on the document itself.

earned a high school degree

Similar to obtaining a diploma, but emphasizes the effort involved.

completed secondary education

A more formal and general term, encompassing all forms of secondary schooling.

finished secondary school

Uses 'secondary school' instead of 'high school', broadening the scope.

high school graduate

Refers to someone who has graduated.

received a high school education

Focuses on the educational experience rather than the completion.

passed high school

Highlights successfully passing all requirements.

attained a high school qualification

Emphasizes the qualification achieved, typically used in formal contexts.

FAQs

What does it mean to have "completed high school"?

To have "completed high school" means that a person has successfully finished all the required courses and met the graduation requirements set by their high school or educational authority, typically culminating in the awarding of a diploma or certificate.

What can I say instead of "completed high school"?

You can use alternatives like "finished high school", "graduated from high school", or "obtained a high school diploma" depending on the context.

Is it more accurate to say "completed high school" or "graduated high school"?

While both phrases are generally understood, "graduated from high school" is more specific, implying participation in a graduation ceremony. "Completed high school" simply indicates that the required coursework was finished successfully.

What is the difference between "completed high school" and "completed secondary education"?

"Completed high school" is specific to the high school level, whereas "completed secondary education" is a broader term that encompasses all forms of secondary schooling, which may include vocational schools or specialized programs alongside traditional high schools.