he is professor

USAGE SUMMARY

The sentence 'he is professor' is correct and usable in written English.
For example, you could use it in a sentence such as, "John Smith is a professor at Yale University."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Books

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

54 human-written examples

He is professor of history of art at York University.

The Guardian - Arts

He is Professor Gordon Rustin, the head of research at Mount Vernon.

The Guardian

He is professor emeritus of English at the University of California, Davis.

The New York Times - Arts

He is Professor of Renaissance Drama at the Roehampton Institute, London.

The Guardian - Books

Bethe writes and lectures tirelessly about energy, and his office, at Cornell University, where he is professor emeritus, is a "filing cabinet" for documents on energy.

The New Yorker

He is professor and chairman at Harvard University's Graduate School of Design, and has an architectural practice in Mumbai and Boston.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

6 human-written examples

For a month each year he is in the US, where he is "professor-at-large" at Brown University, Rhode Island.

The Guardian - Books

He was Professor Plum.

The New York Times

He was Professor there from 1928 to 1948.

The Guardian

He was professor emeritus of radiation oncology at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center.

The New York Times

From 1896 to 1901 he was professor of astronomy at Harvard.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When introducing someone as a professor, ensure you also include their field of expertise and the university they are affiliated with for clarity and context.

Common error

Avoid using the phrase without specifying the university or department. For example, instead of saying "He is professor", say "He is professor of physics at MIT" to provide clear context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he is professor" functions as a descriptive statement identifying an individual's professional role within an academic institution. Ludwig examples show it commonly precedes the specific field and university, providing context to the individual's expertise.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Science

24%

Books

13%

Less common in

Huffington Post

9%

Encyclopedias

4%

The Guardian

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "he is professor" correctly identifies someone holding a professorship. According to Ludwig, it's commonly used in news, science and academic contexts to introduce an individual's professional role. While both grammatically correct and frequent, the phrase may benefit from additional context such as the field of study or institution for enhanced clarity. Ludwig's AI confirms this is a valid and widely employed expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he serves as a professor

Focuses on the action of performing the duties of a professor.

he holds a professorship

Emphasizes the possession of the academic rank.

he works as a professor

Describes his employment status in academia.

he is a faculty member

Highlights membership within the university's teaching staff.

he occupies the chair of professor

Highlights the formal position and authority.

he is employed as professor

Highlights the employment relationship.

he is a lecturer

Specifies a role focused on delivering lectures, potentially at a lower rank.

he lectures as a professor

Focuses on lecturing activities in a professorial capacity.

he teaches as a professor

Highlights teaching responsibilities in the role of a professor.

he is on the faculty as professor

Focuses on the faculty status and professorial role.

FAQs

How can I use "he is professor" in a sentence?

You can use "he is professor" to introduce someone's academic position, such as "He is professor of history at Harvard University".

What is a more formal way to say "he is professor"?

A more formal way to express this is "he holds the position of professor" or "he serves as a professor".

What's the difference between saying "he is professor" and "he is a professor"?

While both are grammatically correct, "he is professor" is less common than "he is a professor". Adding the article "a" often sounds more natural and follows standard English usage. The first can be used in a descriptive manner to highlight that his primary trait or quality is being a professor.

Which is correct, "he is professor" or "he is a professor"?

Both are grammatically acceptable, but "he is a professor" is more conventional and commonly used. "He is professor" might be used in contexts where the focus is specifically on his role or title.