on academic grounds

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'on academic grounds' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to decisions based upon academic criteria or rules. For example, "The college decided to reject the student's application for admission on academic grounds."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

When in 2012 the education minister attempted to close the politics department at Ben Gurion on "academic grounds", it was immediately recognised as a political attack on one of the very few departments where academics were willing to name Israel as an apartheid state.

The Guardian

"Among very, very good schools, a huge percentage of the class is not in play on academic grounds," he says.

The New York Times

A spokesman for the university yesterday insisted that the decision had been made solely on academic grounds.

The Guardian

Professor Cliff insisted the board's decision was taken purely on academic grounds, but both Professor Echenique and students believe it was more to do with money.

The Guardian

Although decisions should always be made on academic grounds, if all other things are equal, then the offer of reduced fees or a cash bursary could sway the outcome.

Independent

"They are saying that it's just on academic grounds, but they seem to be picking on departments without the top research rating because they can justify making cut-backs more easily".

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

Why not divert that money toward financial aid packages that enable students to choose courses on solely academic grounds?

The New York Times

One is the requirement that student slots in colleges and universities and competitive private schools should be open to all applicants with applicants ranked by their ability to learn and other academic virtues and selected on these academic grounds (provided they can pay the tuition and fees).

SEP

Kat Arney investigates, and finds out that experiences on the academic ground can be as positive as negative.

Science Magazine

It would be nice to have some academic grounding".

The New York Times - Arts

Parent Peter Standish has come around to the new calendar, as better on academic and other grounds.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "on academic grounds", ensure that the reasons are genuinely related to academic performance, qualifications, or standards, and not influenced by bias or unrelated factors.

Common error

Avoid using "on academic grounds" as a pretext for decisions that are actually motivated by political, personal, or other non-academic reasons. Ensure transparency and integrity in the decision-making process.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "on academic grounds" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to specify the basis or justification for an action or decision. Ludwig examples show it specifying the reason for rejecting an application or closing a department.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

29%

Wiki

14%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

14%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "on academic grounds" serves as a formal indicator that a decision or action is rooted in academic standards or qualifications. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and commonly used to justify choices within educational and scholarly contexts. Though it occurs most often in news and media and scientific publications, it is key to ensure its use is transparent and genuinely based on academic merit, avoiding any political or biased motivations. To offer a touch of variety, try alternative phrases such as "based on scholarly merit" or "due to educational qualifications".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

based on scholarly merit

This alternative replaces 'academic grounds' with a focus on the quality of scholarship.

due to educational qualifications

This alternative highlights the educational achievements as the reason.

by reason of academic standing

This focuses on the position or reputation within an academic environment.

justified by scholastic performance

Highlights how well someone performs in their studies.

on the strength of academic record

This alternative underscores the importance of the documented academic history.

according to educational criteria

This alternative specifies that the judgment is made following a set of educational standards.

in light of academic achievements

This phrases uses accomplishments as the main reason.

grounded in academic principles

Focuses on foundation based on academic ideas.

predicated on academic expertise

Emphasizes that the rationale is based on specialized knowledge.

stemming from academic aptitude

Highlights the underlying ability to perform academically.

FAQs

How can I use "on academic grounds" in a sentence?

You can use "on academic grounds" to indicate that a decision is based on academic performance, qualifications, or standards. For example, "The student was rejected "on academic grounds" due to poor grades".

What phrases are similar to "on academic grounds"?

Similar phrases include "based on scholarly merit", "due to educational qualifications", and "by reason of academic standing".

Is it appropriate to use "on academic grounds" in a business context?

While "on academic grounds" is more commonly used in educational settings, it can be appropriate in business contexts when discussing training programs, employee development, or research initiatives. However, avoid using the term "on academic grounds" in non-academic situations such as promotions, unless there is solid scientific support.

What's the difference between "on academic grounds" and "on scientific grounds"?

"On academic grounds" refers to reasons related to education and scholarly performance, whereas "on scientific grounds" relates to reasons based on scientific evidence, methodology, or principles.