graduating class

USAGE SUMMARY

Graduating class is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
It is usually used to refer to the group of students within a particular year who are due to graduate. For example, "The graduating class of 2020 held their virtual graduation ceremony."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

His graduating class totaled a dozen.

The New York Times - Sports

Here's to the graduating class of 2012.

The New York Times

Tisch School graduating class of 2016.

The New Yorker

It closed in 1989 with a graduating class of 67.

The New York Times

"There were 11 people in my graduating class.

The New York Times

Each year's graduating class numbered about sixty boys.

The New Yorker

By contrast, the graduating class in 1960 was 20 strong.

The New York Times

I won the prize as top economics graduate in my 1994 graduating class.

The New York Times

I am thinking about organizing a 30th reunion for my elementary-school "graduating" class.

The New York Times - Magazine

At my school, three students of our graduating class of 400 intend to major in English.

The New York Times

(I wondered how the graduating class of G.W. felt about that).

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "graduating class" to refer to a specific group of students completing their studies in a particular year. For example, "The "graduating class" of 2024 achieved record-breaking results."

Common error

Avoid using "graduating class's" when referring to multiple members. It's better to say "the graduating class' achievements" or "the achievements of the graduating class" rather than "the graduating class's achievement."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "graduating class" functions as a noun phrase, typically used as a subject or object in a sentence. It identifies a specific group of students completing their education in a particular year. Ludwig shows that this phrase commonly appears in contexts related to education and achievements.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

47%

Science

22%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "graduating class" is a common and grammatically correct noun phrase used to refer to a group of students completing their studies in a specific year. As Ludwig AI confirms, it adheres to standard grammar rules and is widely accepted. With 59 examples, it is "very common", frequently appearing in news articles, scientific publications, and general discussions. The phrase serves to identify and celebrate students' achievements, often highlighting their future prospects. When using the phrase, ensure correct possessive forms are used and specify the year for clarity. Related phrases such as "class of graduates" or "senior class" can be used as alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

class of graduates

Reverses the order of the words while keeping the same meaning.

graduating cohort

Uses a more formal term ("cohort") for a group of students.

senior class

Focuses on the final year of study.

final year students

Describes the students in their last year.

year of graduation

Highlights the year in which the students graduate.

passing out batch

A more informal term, especially common in some regions.

new alumni

Refers to the graduating class after they have graduated.

completing students

Emphasizes the act of finishing their education.

the graduates

A simpler way to refer to those who are graduating.

those who graduated

Focuses on the act of graduation.

FAQs

How to use "graduating class" in a sentence?

Use "graduating class" to refer to students completing studies in a specific year. For example, "The "graduating class" celebrated their commencement."

What can I say instead of "graduating class"?

You can use alternatives like "class of graduates", "graduating cohort", or "senior class" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "graduating class of 2024"?

Yes, it is correct. "Graduating class of [year]" specifies the year in which the students are graduating, providing clarity and context.

What is the difference between "graduating class" and "alumni"?

"Graduating class" refers to students who are in the process of graduating, while "alumni" refers to graduates who have already completed their studies. Once a "graduating class" completes its graduation, the members become "alumni".