she was graduated

USAGE SUMMARY

The sentence 'she was graduated' is not correct in written English.
You could instead use the sentence 'she graduated' or 'she was graduated from'. For example, 'After four years of hard work, she graduated from college with honors.'.

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

39 human-written examples

She was graduated from Vassar in 1940.

The New York Times

She was graduated from the Madeira School and Smith College.

The New York Times

She was graduated from Columbia Presbyterian Nursing School, 1935.

The New York Times

She was graduated from the Spence School and 1949 from Vassar College.

The New York Times

She was graduated from the Female Medical College of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia in 1864.

The New York Times - Style

She was graduated from St. Margaret's School in Waterbury, Conn., and Wheelock College in Boston.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

21 human-written examples

Just five years ago, she was graduating from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

Independent

Only when she was graduating from high school did she remember her youthful passion.

The New York Times - Style

Now she was graduating — along with 23 other addicts who entered drug court instead of prison.

The New York Times

Grace Joo, 17, was overwhelmed that she was graduating.

Los Angeles Times

"And when we wrapped '24,' she was graduating from New York University".

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Prefer the active voice construction "she graduated from [institution]" for clearer and more direct writing. While the passive form exists, it is often perceived as less grammatically sound.

Common error

Avoid using the passive voice form unless you want to emphasize the institution rather than the person who graduated. For example, instead of saying "She was graduated from Harvard", say "She graduated from Harvard" to focus on her achievement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "she was graduated" functions as a passive voice construction indicating the completion of studies. However, as Ludwig AI points out, this usage is considered grammatically questionable. More common and accepted is the active voice form.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

51%

Academia

44%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

While the phrase "she was graduated" appears in numerous sources, Ludwig AI indicates that it's grammatically incorrect and less preferable than the active voice construction "she graduated". Predominantly found in News & Media and Academic contexts, this passive construction aims to express the completion of studies but is often seen as awkward or outdated. For clearer and more direct communication, opting for the active voice is the recommended practice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

she graduated

Active voice construction instead of passive.

she was awarded a degree

Passive voice, but uses "awarded" instead of "graduated".

she received her degree

Uses "received" to indicate obtaining a degree.

she completed her studies

Focuses on the completion of studies, a broader term.

she earned her diploma

Specifies the reception of a diploma.

she finished her education

Highlights the end of the educational journey.

she obtained her qualification

Uses "qualification" to represent degree or diploma.

she passed her final exams

Emphasizes successful completion of exams.

she fulfilled the requirements for graduation

Focuses on meeting all criteria for graduation.

she concluded her academic career

Highlights the end of her academic path.

FAQs

What's the correct way to say someone completed their studies?

The preferred construction is to use the active voice: "she graduated". For example: "She graduated from Yale."

Is "she was graduated" grammatically correct?

While you might encounter the phrase "she was graduated", it's generally considered grammatically incorrect in modern English. The active voice form, "she graduated", is the standard and preferred usage.

What are some alternatives to saying someone "was graduated"?

Instead of "she was graduated", use phrases like "she graduated", "she received her degree", or "she completed her studies".

Why is "she was graduated" not recommended?

The passive voice construction "she was graduated" is less direct and can sound awkward. The active voice "she graduated" is clearer and more concise.