majored

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "majored" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate the subject or field of study that a student has focused on during their college or university education. Example: "She majored in psychology at the university and is now pursuing a career in counseling."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

We have majored on the wrong thing," he said.

The Guardian

After finishing high school she enrolled in the Faculty of Visual Arts and Design in The Hague, The Netherlands, where she majored in photography (and where she now teaches narrative photography).

The Economist

Alongside the broad MBA, I majored in health-sector management and integrative thinking.

The Economist

She majored in finance, and now has a good job at an investment consulting firm.

The Economist

In most companies the personnel manager will have a degree in business administration, having majored in labour relations; the marketing manager will have majored in sales and marketing; the graduates in the corporate planning and accounting departments will have the same degrees but with their relevant specialisation, and so on.

The Economist

Speaking as one who majored in 17th century British satirists (the deficits in my economic education were made up in graduate school), I imagine that tens of thousands of dollars of worth of outstanding loans might have had a wonderfully focusing effect on my mind.

The Economist

She had majored in psychology and won a research fellowship at Berkeley, though she gave it up when her boyfriend felt overshadowed.

The Economist

She majored in art and architectural history and spent her summers interning at art museums.

The Economist

One of your correspondent's chums majored in hypertext at an American university in the late 1980s and become one of the earliest internet web publishers.Xanadu was never intended to take decades to build, but Mr Nelson is persnickety.

The Economist

Abraham Lincoln had majored on war, God and offence.

The Economist

I majored in miracles".The question is not whether Mr Huckabee can win but whether his campaign will hurt the eventual nominee.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Combine "majored" with specific degree types for clarity. Instead of saying "He "majored" in college", say "He "majored" in history, earning a BA in 1998."

Common error

Avoid using incorrect prepositions after "majored". The correct preposition is "in". Incorrect: "She "majored" at psychology". Correct: "She "majored" in psychology".

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "majored" is to act as a verb indicating the field of study in which someone specialized during their college or university education. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in numerous contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Encyclopedias

40%

Science

19%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "majored" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed verb used to specify a person's primary area of study at a higher education institution. According to Ludwig, its usage is appropriate across various contexts, particularly in news, encyclopedias and general academic discussions. To ensure clarity, it's crucial to pair "majored" with the correct preposition ("in") and to accurately denote the specific degree earned. Alternatives such as "specialized in" or "concentrated on" can provide nuanced ways to describe the focus of one's studies.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

specialized in

Indicates a focus of study or expertise but can also apply to skills and knowledge.

concentrated on

Emphasizes a specific area of focus during studies, rather than just the degree.

focused on

A more general way to describe concentrated effort in a certain area.

studied

A broad term, indicating any form of learning or academic pursuit.

took a degree in

Highlights the formal qualification earned in a specific field.

earned a degree in

Similar to "took a degree in", with more emphasis on degree completion.

read

More common in British English, indicating a subject studied at university.

pursued a course in

Highlights the path of learning within a subject area.

devoted oneself to

Emphasizes commitment and dedication to a specific field of study.

excelled in

Focuses on outstanding performance and achievement in a particular area.

FAQs

How do I use "majored" in a sentence?

Use "majored" to indicate the main subject a student studied at university. For example, "He "majored" in computer science".

What is another way to say "majored in"?

Alternatives include "specialized in", "concentrated on", or "focused on", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "majored at" instead of "majored in"?

No, the correct preposition to use with "majored" is "in". Saying "majored at" is grammatically incorrect. Use "majored in" followed by the field of study.

What is the difference between "majored in" and "graduated in"?

"Majored in" refers to the main subject studied, while "graduated in" typically refers to the year one completed their degree. For example, "She "majored" in English" indicates her subject, while "She graduated in 2020" indicates her graduation year.