holds a degree

USAGE SUMMARY

"holds a degree" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are referring to someone who has earned a degree from a college or university. For example, "My brother holds a degree in computer science from Harvard University."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

(He holds a degree in literature from Yale).

The New York Times

Author John le Carré also holds a degree in languages.

The Guardian - Money

"He also holds a degree in athletics for the decathlon".

The Guardian - Music

Mr. Meléndez-Ortiz holds a degree from Harvard.

Harvard University

She holds a degree from Suffolk University in Government Studies.

Harvard University

The housemate, Aviva Something, holds a degree in—I kid you not modern culture and media.

The New Yorker

But Haidar, who holds a degree in Islamic Studies, insists her husband never criticised Islam.

The Guardian

He holds a degree in canon law, and served in Rome for 18 years.

The New York Times

He holds a degree in art history as well as in political science and law.

The New York Times - Arts

The problem is that government funding is not available if the employee holds a degree.

The Guardian

Parker holds a degree in natural sciences from Cambridge University, and is married with two children.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "holds a degree" to formally state someone's academic qualifications in professional contexts such as resumes, biographies, or official announcements.

Common error

Avoid using past tense (held a degree) when referring to someone currently possessing a degree. Use present tense ("holds a degree") to reflect their current qualification.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "holds a degree" functions as a declarative statement indicating that an individual has successfully completed and been awarded an academic qualification. Ludwig AI confirms that this is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Academia

32%

News & Media

59%

Science

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "holds a degree" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to denote that someone has successfully completed an academic program. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is suitable for formal contexts such as academic, professional and journalistic writing. While alternatives like "has a degree" or "is a graduate" exist, "holds a degree" maintains a formal tone. It is important to use the correct tense to accurately reflect someone's current qualifications. The phrase is very common in Academia, News & Media, and Science contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has a degree

Slightly more general, focusing on possession rather than attainment.

earned a degree

Emphasizes the effort involved in obtaining the degree.

obtained a degree

Focuses on the act of getting a degree.

is a graduate

Highlights completion of a degree program.

was awarded a degree

Highlights the conferment of the degree.

completed a degree

Emphasizes the finished degree program.

possesses a degree

More formal way of indicating degree ownership.

is degreed in

A more concise way to state the field of study.

is qualified in

Indicates competence in a specific field through a degree.

is certified in

Indicates formal certification, which may be related to a degree.

FAQs

How to use "holds a degree" in a sentence?

You can use "holds a degree" to state that someone has successfully completed a degree program. For example, "She "holds a degree" in engineering from MIT".

What can I say instead of "holds a degree"?

You can use alternatives like "has a degree", "is a graduate", or "earned a degree" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "holds a degree" or "held a degree"?

"Holds a degree" is used when someone currently possesses a degree. "Held a degree" is used when referring to a degree they possessed in the past but may no longer be relevant.

What's the difference between "holds a degree" and "is degreed in"?

"Holds a degree" is a more general statement about possessing a degree, while "is degreed in" specifically indicates the field of study in which the degree was obtained.