they were classmates

USAGE SUMMARY

The sentence "they were classmates" is correct and can be used in written English.
For example, you could use it in a sentence like: "Katie and Joe had been friends since they were classmates in grade school."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

25 human-written examples

They were classmates as undergraduates at Columbia.

The New York Times - Arts

They were classmates at a Mormon high school.

The New York Times

They were classmates at the University of Michigan Law School.

The New York Times

Years later, they were classmates and acquaintances but not friends.

The New York Times

Brune & Richard's founders pursued different paths after Harvard, where they were classmates with Michelle Obama.

The New York Times

They were classmates at Duke and remained friends over the years, though they met only occasionally.

The New York Times - Style

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

33 human-written examples

Although they are classmates, Smith and Susantio connected through Smith's brother-in-law, who is an intellectual property attorney in Philadelphia.

Forbes

And this is two way, much depends on how we approach them, our personal relations with them matter, also age factor, if they are of the same age group or sometimes they are classmates, so these things matter- Block Medical Officer As regards the selection process, we learnt from our interviews that it remained only a formality to be completed as choices were often limited.

BMC Health Services Research

He and Kauser were classmates.

The Guardian

Marjorie Fortunoff and I were classmates.

The New York Times

"K >atherine Brokaw and I were classmates.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "they were classmates" when you want to specifically indicate that individuals attended classes together, sharing a common educational experience. This phrasing effectively communicates a shared academic setting and implies a connection through shared coursework or school activities.

Common error

Avoid using "they were classmates" if you only mean that people attended the same school. Classmates specifically implies shared classes. If they simply attended the same school but weren't necessarily in the same classes, use "they were schoolmates" or "they attended the same school" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they were classmates" functions as a statement indicating a shared educational experience. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and commonly used. It specifies a relationship where individuals attended classes together, sharing a common academic setting.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "they were classmates" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to indicate that individuals attended classes together. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and widespread applicability. It is most commonly found in News & Media contexts and serves to establish a shared educational background, providing context to relationships. When using this phrase, ensure it accurately reflects a shared academic setting and not just attendance at the same school. Alternatives like "they studied in the same class" can offer more specific nuances if needed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they were in the same class

More specific than "they were classmates", implying that they were enrolled in the same class

they shared classes

Focuses on the act of being in the same educational environment and course.

they studied in the same class

Emphasizes the shared academic environment and curriculum.

they were schoolmates

A more generic term emphasizing shared school attendance rather than specific classes.

they attended school together

Focuses on the act of attending school at the same time, rather than specifically being in the same class.

they were fellow students

Highlights their shared status as students but not necessarily classmates.

they were in the same grade

Highlights that they were in the same year of school, though not necessarily in the same classes.

they were in the same year at school

Specifies that they were in the same academic year, implying a shared general experience.

they went to school together

Similar to 'attended school together', but can also refer to the same institution without being in the same class.

they knew each other from school

Indicates a relationship originating from school attendance, without specifying class.

FAQs

How can I use "they were classmates" in a sentence?

You can use "they were classmates" to indicate that two or more people attended the same classes together. For example, "John and Mary had known each other since "they were classmates" in elementary school".

What's the difference between "they were classmates" and "they were schoolmates"?

"They were classmates" means they attended the same classes, while "they were schoolmates" simply means they attended the same school. Classmates implies a closer, shared academic experience.

What can I say instead of "they were classmates"?

You can use alternatives like "they studied in the same class" or "they shared classes" depending on the context. These options emphasize the shared academic setting.

Is it correct to say "they were class fellows" instead of "they were classmates"?

While "class fellows" might be understood, "they were classmates" is the more common and widely accepted phrasing in English to describe individuals who attended the same classes together.