earned a grade

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "earned a grade" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing academic performance or assessment results in a school or educational context. Example: "After completing the final exam, she earned a grade that reflected her hard work throughout the semester."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

24 human-written examples

Courses in which a student has earned a grade of B- or below cannot be counted toward a graduate certificate.

Harvard University

Tebow has earned a grade point average of 3.66 while playing football, including up to 20 hours a week studying film.

The New York Times - Sports

Cornell Engineering does not award credit for courses in which a student has earned a grade less than C; schools and departments may stipulate a higher minimum grade.

Cornell University

Only about 10 boulangeries in Paris (out of perhaps 1,200) earned a grade of 16 or higher, which Kaplan analogizes to three Michelin stars.

Princeton University

Elizabeth Phillips, principal of Public School 321, an elementary school in Park Slope, Brooklyn, said the school had always earned a grade of A or B. But she said the grades were "completely meaningless".

The New York Times

However, if you need to repeat a required course because you earned a grade below the minimum and there are no alternatives courses from which to choose both grades count toward your GPA.

Harvard University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

36 human-written examples

Just as restaurants cleaned up to earn "A" grades, banks would seek A's.

The New York Times

It also earned A grades for both up- and down-market performance in the recent Forbes fund survey.

Forbes

The fund has consistently earned A grades from us for down-market performance over the years, while still keeping pace during up markets.

Forbes

All but one of San Diego County's 77 beaches earned A grades.

Los Angeles Times

Two of its area hospitals, Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center in Torrance and Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, earned A grades for patient safety.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "earned a grade", consider the context. It's particularly effective when you want to emphasize the effort and work that went into achieving the grade.

Common error

Avoid using "earned a grade" when the focus is on the grade itself rather than the student's effort. For example, instead of "The final exam earned a good grade", it's better to say "The student earned a good grade on the final exam".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "earned a grade" functions as a verb phrase, indicating the action of achieving a specific grade. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. Examples show it used in contexts where effort and performance are linked to the outcome.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Academia

60%

News & Media

30%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "earned a grade" is a grammatically sound verb phrase denoting the achievement of a grade through effort, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It's most frequently used in academic and news contexts, reflecting a neutral tone suitable for broad communication. While alternatives like "received a grade" exist, "earned a grade" emphasizes the role of hard work and merit. When using the phrase, ensure the context aligns with the focus on effort rather than merely stating the grade received.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

received a grade

Focuses on the act of getting a grade, rather than the effort involved.

obtained a grade

Highlights the achievement of getting a grade, often implying effort.

achieved a grade

Emphasizes the accomplishment of attaining a specific grade.

got a grade

A more informal way of saying "received a grade".

attained a grade

Similar to achieved, but can imply a higher level of effort.

secured a grade

Suggests effort was required to ensure the grade was obtained.

merited a grade

Indicates the grade was deserved based on performance.

registered a grade

Focuses on the grade being officially recorded.

chalked up a grade

An informal term, emphasizing the accumulation of a grade.

posted a grade

Emphasizes the result is publicly available, typically on a transcript.

FAQs

How can I use "earned a grade" in a sentence?

You can use "earned a grade" to emphasize that someone achieved a specific grade through effort or merit. For example, "She "earned a grade" of A on the final exam after studying diligently."

What are some alternatives to "earned a grade"?

Alternatives include "received a grade", "obtained a grade", or "achieved a grade". The best choice depends on the nuance you want to convey.

Is there a difference between "earned a grade" and "received a grade"?

"Earned a grade" emphasizes the effort or merit involved in achieving the grade, while "received a grade" is a more neutral term that simply indicates the grade was given. For instance, you might say "He "earned a grade" of B through hard work", versus "He "received a grade" of B on the test".

When is it inappropriate to use the phrase "earned a grade"?

It might be inappropriate if the context downplays personal effort. For instance, if describing a situation where a grade was given due to a clerical error, "received a grade" would be more suitable.