having majored

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "having majored" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone has completed a major in a specific field of study, often in the context of education or qualifications. Example: "Having majored in biology, she was well-prepared for a career in environmental science."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

Mr. Ensley graduated from Howard University in 1962, having majored in political science.

The New York Times

He graduated in 1999, having majored in both human and organizational development and economics.

The New York Times

He is on schedule to graduate in May, having majored in French.

The New York Times - Sports

He graduated from the Juilliard School having majored in violin and composition.

The New York Times - Arts

He graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Princeton in 1943, having majored in European history of the Renaissance and Reformation.

The New York Times

While making tentative stabs at being an artist, he graduated from City College, having majored in philosophy, and reluctantly entered his father's menswear-manufacturing business.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

"They are having major problems.

The Guardian

But I have major reservations.

The New York Times

Tesco has major image difficulties.

Independent

"We have major flash floods.

The New York Times

AstraZeneca has had major management shake-ups.

The New York Times - Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "having majored" to clearly indicate that someone completed a major in a specific field before undertaking a subsequent action or role. This construction effectively links the academic background to later experiences.

Common error

Avoid using "having majored" when simply stating someone's major without connecting it to a subsequent action. Use the simple past tense ("majored in") or a noun phrase ("with a major in") instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "having majored" functions as a participial phrase, modifying a noun or pronoun to provide information about a completed academic specialization. Ludwig examples show it preceding a main clause, setting the context for subsequent actions or attributes.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

53%

Academia

35%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Science

3%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "having majored" is a grammatically sound and frequently used participial phrase that connects a person's completed academic major to later events or achievements. Ludwig confirms its correctness and usability. Predominantly found in news articles and academic texts, the phrase serves to establish qualifications or expertise. When using this construction, ensure it logically links the major to a subsequent action. Consider using alternatives like ""with a major in"" or ""majoring in"" to suit different sentence structures or desired emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

with a major in

Replaces the participle construction with a prepositional phrase indicating the field of study.

majoring in

Uses a present participle to describe the act of specializing in a field of study.

specializing in

Emphasizes the specialization aspect of studying a particular field.

with a focus on

Highlights the area of concentration within a broader field of study.

graduating with a degree in

Specifies the completion of a degree program in a particular subject.

having concentrated in

Similar to 'specializing in', but emphasizes a focused effort.

whose major was

Uses a relative clause to specify the field of study.

field of study was

Directly states the area of academic focus.

studied

Simple past tense verb that highlights the act of studying a specific subject.

after completing a degree in

Emphasizes the completion of a degree before an action.

FAQs

How can I use "having majored" in a sentence?

Use "having majored" to connect a person's academic major to a subsequent event or achievement. For example, "Having majored in biology, she pursued a career in environmental science."

What's a good alternative to "having majored"?

Alternatives include "with a major in" or "majoring in", depending on the sentence structure and the emphasis you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "having majored at" a university?

While grammatically possible, it's more common and natural to say "having majored in" a subject, specifying the field of study rather than the institution.

What is the difference between "majoring in" and "having majored in"?

"Majoring in" indicates a current or ongoing action, while "having majored in" indicates a completed action, often with implications for later activities or qualifications.