to plan a course

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to plan a course" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing the act of creating a strategy or outline for a specific path or direction, whether in education, travel, or project management. Example: "The committee met to plan a course for the upcoming semester that would enhance student engagement."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The same lecturer used two different learning models (virtual and traditional) to plan a course on the topic "rotary instrumentation of root canals".

BMC Medical Education

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

The defence may say her current story opens up the possibility she doctored the scene or used the time to plan a particular course of action.

BBC

Wiggins and McTighe (1997), called for us "to operationalize our goals or standards in terms of assessment evidence as we begin to plan a unit or course" (p. 8).

CBE Life Sciences Education

"We'll have to try a few here and plan a course for the wine trails this summer".

Los Angeles Times

They reported that PBL presented challenges that allowed them to become intrinsically motivated, set goals, plan a course of action, select appropriate strategies, and self-monitor and self-evaluate their learning.

BMC Medical Education

The data presented here suggest that it is possible to plan a overall strategy with 2 courses of empirical but logically chosen antibiotics, reserving sensitivity testing only when a third line is contemplated.

BMC Gastroenterology

The principle of the course is to plan a yearly increase in complexity, allowing the revision of acquired skills and the learning of new skills.

BMJ Open

Therefore, the objectives of this study were: 1) to systematically develop a training course aimed at improving the communication skills of physicians during work disability assessment interviews with disability claimants, and 2) to plan an evaluation of the training course.

BMC Medical Education

I feel that a key to planning a successful RCR course is involving people; online or virtual learning cannot provide that critical ingredient.

Science Magazine

I therefore have included excursions such as these into the text, but I highly encourage teachers and others planning a course to omit these excursions, as they see fit, or to use them as supplementary materials.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

Carnegie Mellon University is helping the northern state of Punjab to plan courses at a new university, while Virginia Tech and Schulich have lined up Indian partners and have announced plans for new campuses near Chennai and in Hyderabad, respectively.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "to plan a course", ensure your audience understands whether you're referring to academic studies, a strategic sequence of actions, or a literal path/route.

Common error

Avoid using "to plan a course" when a more specific verb like "design", "develop", or "structure" would better convey the intended meaning. The term can be vague if the context doesn't immediately clarify the nature of the planning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to plan a course" functions as an infinitive phrase expressing purpose or intention. It often serves as an object of a verb (e.g., "met to plan a course") or as an adjective modifying a noun (e.g., "a meeting to plan a course"). Ludwig AI indicates its usage is acceptable.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Social Media

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "to plan a course" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase that describes the process of creating a structured plan for academic studies, strategic actions or literal physical routes. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability across diverse contexts, though considering more precise alternatives like "to design a course" or "to develop a course" can enhance clarity. Its prevalence in both News & Media and Science showcases its broad applicability, making it a versatile choice for various writing needs.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to design a course

Focuses on the structural and artistic aspects of creating a course.

to develop a course

Emphasizes the progressive construction and refinement of a course.

to create a course

Highlights the act of bringing a course into existence from scratch.

to prepare a course

Stresses the readiness and arrangement needed before teaching.

to structure a course

Focuses on organizing the content and flow of a course.

to formulate a course

Highlights the intellectual effort involved in creating the course's framework.

to lay out a course

Emphasizes the detailed arrangement and presentation of the course material.

to map out a course

Suggests a comprehensive overview and strategic planning of the course content.

to organize a course

Focuses on the systematic arrangement and management of the course elements.

to arrange a course

Implies careful placement and sequencing of course components.

FAQs

What does "to plan a course" mean?

The phrase "to plan a course" refers to designing, developing, or organizing a specific sequence of lessons, actions, or events, especially within an educational or strategic context.

What can I say instead of "to plan a course"?

You can use alternatives like "to design a course", "to develop a course", or "to structure a course" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "plan a course" or "design a course"?

Both "plan a course" and "design a course" are correct, but "design" often implies more attention to the detailed structure and artistic elements, while "plan" is more general.

How do you use "to plan a course" in a sentence?

You can use "to plan a course" in a sentence like, "The professor met with the department head to plan a course for the upcoming semester that would focus on modern literature."