graduating from high school

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "graduating from high school" is correct and usable in written English.
For example, you could use it in the sentence, "My brother is excited about graduating from high school in June."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

After graduating from high school, he drove a truck.

The New York Times

His daughter will soon be graduating from high school.

The New York Times

After graduating from high school, Dagan trained as a paratrooper.

The New Yorker

He enlisted in the military after graduating from high school.

The New York Times

Graduating from high school in 1943, he joined the navy.

The Guardian

And just before graduating from high school, in the spring of 2005, he found it.

The New York Times - Magazine

Mr. Edmundson made this discovery himself just before graduating from high school.

The New York Times - Books

After graduating from high school at 16, Mr. Linkletter decided to see the world.

The New York Times - Arts

Upon graduating from high school, he began working at the Isaacs Center.

The New York Times

After graduating from high school in 1995, Mr. Hess joined the Marines.

The New York Times

He moved to Los Angeles in 1987 after graduating from high school.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about future plans, use the present continuous tense ("is graduating") or future tense ("will be graduating") to maintain clarity.

Common error

Avoid using the past tense when referring to an upcoming graduation. For example, instead of "He graduated from high school next year", use "He is graduating from high school next year".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "graduating from high school" functions as a gerund phrase, often acting as a noun. It describes the act or process of completing high school. Ludwig AI confirms that it is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Encyclopedias

25%

Science

15%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "graduating from high school" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe the completion of secondary education. As Ludwig AI points out, it's widely used and understood in various contexts. The phrase functions as a gerund phrase, often acting as a noun, and its register is generally neutral. It is frequently found in news articles, encyclopedias, and scientific publications. Common alternatives include "completing high school" and "high school graduation". When using the phrase, ensure correct tense usage to avoid errors. The phrase enjoys very frequent usage and, due to its formal, simple and clear meaning, it can be used across various contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

high school graduation

Noun phrase instead of a gerund phrase.

completing high school

Uses "completing" instead of "graduating".

finishing high school

Uses "finishing" instead of "graduating".

obtaining a high school diploma

More formal way of expressing the same concept.

receiving a high school diploma

Similar to obtaining, but with a different verb.

after high school graduation

Rephrased to emphasize the point in time after graduation.

upon high school graduation

Similar to "after high school graduation", emphasizing the timing.

high school graduate

Uses a noun to describe someone who has graduated.

the end of high school

Focuses on the end of the high school period rather than the act of graduating.

leaving high school

Implies graduation but doesn't explicitly state it.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "graduating from high school"?

You can use alternatives like "completing high school", "finishing high school", or "high school graduation" depending on the context.

What's the difference between "graduating from high school" and "graduate from high school"?

"Graduating from high school" is a gerund phrase, often used to describe an ongoing or future event, whereas "graduate from high school" is an infinitive form, often used in more general statements or instructions. For example, "She is graduating from high school this year", vs. "To graduate from high school, you must complete all required courses."

Is it correct to say "graduated high school"?

While "graduated high school" might be understood, it's not grammatically standard. The correct phrasing is "graduated from high school".

Can "graduating from high school" be used as a noun?

While not a typical noun, "graduating from high school" can function as a gerund phrase acting as a noun in certain contexts. For instance, "Graduating from high school is a major milestone."