in a course

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "in a course" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is typically used to refer to being enrolled or participating in a series of classes or lessons. Example: After finishing high school, I enrolled in a course at the local community college to improve my computer skills.

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

What happens after enrolling in a course?

University of California, Berkeley

It is best used in a course on marketing research.

Harvard Business Review

How do I upload a a file in a course?

Yale University

Next: How do I edit user roles in a course?

Yale University

How do I use grading periods in a course?

Yale University

How do I view grading period dates in a course?

Yale University

How do I delete an enrollment in a course?

Yale University

How do I grade group assignments in a course?

Yale University

How do I edit user roles in a course?

Yale University

This tool allows the competition among students for improving their learning process in a course.

Expert Systems with Applications

The cycle performance of prepared Ni Sn alloy was tested in a course of controlling the state of charge (SOC).

Electrochimica Acta

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "in a course", ensure the context clearly indicates participation or involvement in an educational program. For example, "The students learned about data analysis in a course on statistics."

Common error

Avoid using "in a course" when referring to general learning outside of a structured educational setting. For instance, instead of saying "I learned about gardening in a course of life", opt for "I learned about gardening through experience".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in a course" primarily functions as a prepositional phrase, modifying verbs or nouns to specify the context of an action or state within a structured educational program. Ludwig indicates its correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Academia

45%

News & Media

25%

Science

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "in a course" is a grammatically sound and frequently used prepositional phrase that indicates participation or involvement within a structured educational setting. As confirmed by Ludwig, its function is primarily to provide context, specifying where learning or an activity takes place. Its register is generally neutral to formal. To ensure clarity, it's best to use "in a course" when referring to activities directly related to a defined curriculum, and to avoid it in more general contexts. By understanding its proper application and exploring semantically related alternatives, writers can effectively and precisely convey information about educational experiences.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

during a course

Replaces 'in' with 'during', emphasizing the timeframe of the course.

within a course

Substitutes 'in' with 'within', suggesting content or activities contained inside the course.

as part of a course

Emphasizes that something is a component of the course.

while taking a course

Highlights the action of taking or attending the course.

enrolled in a class

Replaces 'course' with 'class', a more informal term for a similar educational setting.

participating in a program

Broadens 'course' to 'program', suggesting a more extensive educational undertaking.

engaged in a module

Narrows the scope to a 'module', indicating a specific unit within a larger course or program.

through a curriculum

Shifts the focus to the curriculum, emphasizing the planned educational content.

following a syllabus

Focuses on adhering to the outlined plan of the course.

undertaking a study

Highlights the act of studying as part of the course.

FAQs

How can I use "in a course" in a sentence?

Use "in a course" to describe activities, learning, or involvement within a structured educational setting. For example, "We studied algorithms "in a course" on computer science".

What are some alternatives to "in a course"?

Consider alternatives like "during a course", "as part of a course", or "within a course" to vary your phrasing.

Is it correct to say "on a course" instead of "in a course"?

While "on a course" can sometimes be used, it often refers to the physical location of a course (e.g., a golf course). "In a course" is generally more appropriate when discussing the content or activities within an educational program.

What's the difference between "in a course" and "through a course"?

"In a course" suggests being enrolled or participating in the course. "Through a course" implies learning or achieving something as a result of the course.