in high school

USAGE SUMMARY

"in high school" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to the time period when someone is in secondary school between the ages of fourteen and eighteen. For example: "When I was in high school, I was active in the debate team."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I'm in high school".

The New Yorker

In high school.

The New Yorker

And in high school?

The New York Times

In high school, things improved.

The New Yorker

As in, high school girls?

The New York Times - Sports

Played softball in high school.

The New Yorker

Kemar enrolled in high school.

The New York Times

In high school something clicked.

The New York Times

Not in high school football.

The New York Times - Sports

"I played football in high school".

The New York Times - Sports

"It was freshman year in high school.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "in high school" to broadly describe experiences or events that happened during those years. For example, "my interest in science began in high school".

Common error

Avoid vague references to experiences "in high school" without specifying the context or relevance. Ensure the sentence clearly communicates the intended meaning. For example, avoid saying, "Things changed in high school" without explaining what changed.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in high school" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying verbs or clauses by specifying the time or context. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a grammatically sound way to indicate that something occurred during one's high school years. For example, "I played football "in high school""

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

53%

Wiki

12%

The New Yorker

9%

Less common in

Forbes

5%

Huffington Post

3%

Los Angeles Times

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "in high school" is a common and grammatically correct way to refer to events or experiences that occurred during one's secondary education. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's appropriate for a wide range of contexts, with a generally neutral register. It's most frequently used in News & Media and Wiki contexts. When writing, ensure that the timeframe and context are clear to avoid ambiguity. For more formal settings, consider alternatives like "during secondary education". The phrase's widespread use and clear meaning make it a valuable tool for effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in secondary school

Synonymous term for high school, more common in some regions.

during my high school years

Focuses on the timeframe rather than just the institution.

while attending high school

Emphasizes the act of attending the school.

when I was a high schooler

Uses a different noun form to refer to someone in high school.

during secondary education

Uses a more formal term for high school.

at the high school level

Focuses on the academic stage.

throughout my secondary schooling

Highlights the entire period of secondary education.

during my time in secondary education

More verbose way to express being a student.

during adolescence

Broader term referring to the period of teenage years, which often includes high school.

as a teenager

More general reference to the teenage years, overlapping with the high school period.

FAQs

How can I use "in high school" in a sentence?

You can use "in high school" to describe experiences, activities, or time periods related to your high school years. For example: "I played football "in high school"" or "In high school, I developed an interest in science".

What's a more formal way to say "in high school"?

For a more formal tone, you could say "during my secondary education" or "at the secondary school level". These phrases are suitable for academic or professional contexts where a more elevated vocabulary is preferred.

Is it correct to say "while in high school" instead of "in high school"?

Yes, "while in high school" is grammatically correct and often used interchangeably with "in high school". Both phrases indicate that something happened during the time you were attending high school.

What's the difference between "in high school" and "at high school"?

"In high school" refers to the period of time when someone is a student at a high school. "At high school" typically refers to being physically present at the school. For example, "I learned to play guitar "in high school"" versus "I met my friends "at high school"".