earned a bachelor

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "earned a bachelor" is not correct as it is incomplete; it should be "earned a bachelor's degree." You can use it when referring to the completion of an undergraduate program in a specific field of study.
Example: "After four years of hard work, she finally earned a bachelor's degree in psychology."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Science & Research

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

A year later, he earned a Bachelor of Arts with distinction in economics at Pomona College.

Cornell University

He earned a bachelor of divinity degree from Princeton Theological Seminary but was never ordained.

The New York Times

He earned a bachelor of science degree at the University of Pittsburgh.

The New York Times

In 1995, Corey earned a Bachelor of Science Degree at the University of Vermont in Burlington.

The New York Times

Budd attended Dartmouth and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree cum laude in 1936.

The New York Times

In 1998, she earned a bachelor of laws, making her the first person in her family to graduate from college.

The New Yorker

He earned a bachelor of arts degree at the University of Washington in 1937 and entered military service in 1938.

The New York Times

Fried earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts with an emphasis in sculpture.

Columbia University

She earned a bachelor degree in 1900 and a master degree in 1901.

Cornell University

He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1912 and a Master's in 1913.

Columbia University

In 2007, she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Comparative Literature from the UCLA.

Columbia University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always follow "earned a" with the full and correct term "bachelor's degree" to ensure grammatical accuracy. Avoid omitting "'s degree".

Common error

A frequent mistake is saying "earned a bachelor" instead of "earned a bachelor's degree". Always include "'s degree" to be grammatically correct.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "earned a bachelor" functions as part of a larger sentence describing someone's educational achievements. However, it's grammatically incomplete. Ludwig AI suggests the accurate and complete phrase is "earned a bachelor's degree".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Academia

22%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

8%

Science & Research

7%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "earned a bachelor" appears frequently, it is grammatically incorrect. The proper way to express this idea is "earned a bachelor's degree". Ludwig AI advises to avoid the abbreviated form, especially in formal contexts, and suggests using the complete phrase or alternatives like "obtained a bachelor's degree" or "received a bachelor's degree" for clarity and correctness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

obtained a bachelor's degree

Replaces "earned" with "obtained" and adds "degree" to clarify completion, maintaining formal tone.

received a bachelor's degree

Substitutes "earned" with "received," both indicating the conferral of a degree.

completed a bachelor's degree

Focuses on completion aspect rather than earning.

graduated with a bachelor's degree

Highlights graduation milestone with bachelor's degree.

was awarded a bachelor's degree

Emphasizes the awarding of the degree.

secured a bachelor's degree

Conveys the idea of obtaining the degree through effort.

attained a bachelor's degree

Highlights the achievement of attaining the bachelor's.

finished a bachelor's degree

Focuses on the completion aspect in a more informal tone.

acquired a bachelor's degree

Indicates the acquisition of the bachelor's degree.

was granted a bachelor's degree

Emphasizes the official granting of the degree.

FAQs

What's the correct way to say someone completed their undergraduate studies?

The accurate phrase is "earned a bachelor's degree". Alternatives include "obtained a bachelor's degree" or "received a bachelor's degree".

Is it acceptable to shorten "bachelor's degree" in formal writing?

In formal writing, it's best to avoid shortening "bachelor's degree". Use the full phrase or alternatives like "undergraduate degree" if appropriate for the context.

What does it mean to "earn a bachelor's degree"?

To "earn a bachelor's degree" means to successfully complete all the requirements of an undergraduate program at a college or university, demonstrating proficiency in a specific field of study.

How to avoid grammar errors when talking about educational qualifications?

Always double-check the phrase, ensuring it includes "'s degree" after "bachelor". If you are not sure, you can use alternatives such as "completed a bachelor's degree".