Holding / Possessing / Earning / Attaining a degree [closed]
.everyoneloves__top-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__mid-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__bot-mid-leaderboard:empty{ margin-bottom:0;
}
I would like to say "people hold a university degree". Can I paraphrase it as "people earned/possess/own a uni degree"?
Also is it possible to say "He attained/achieved a higher degree of education than the others?"
Thanks!
word-usage
asked May 25 at 20:33
user349617user349617
62 bronze badges
closed as off-topic by JJJ, Jason Bassford, Chappo, Chenmunka, Mari-Lou A Jun 1 at 16:49
This question appears to be off-topic. The users who voted to close gave this specific reason:
- "Proofreading questions are off-topic unless a specific source of concern in the text is clearly identified." – Chenmunka, Mari-Lou A
If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.
add a comment
|
I would like to say "people hold a university degree". Can I paraphrase it as "people earned/possess/own a uni degree"?
Also is it possible to say "He attained/achieved a higher degree of education than the others?"
Thanks!
word-usage
asked May 25 at 20:33
user349617user349617
62 bronze badges
closed as off-topic by JJJ, Jason Bassford, Chappo, Chenmunka, Mari-Lou A Jun 1 at 16:49
This question appears to be off-topic. The users who voted to close gave this specific reason:
- "Proofreading questions are off-topic unless a specific source of concern in the text is clearly identified." – Chenmunka, Mari-Lou A
If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.
Thanks. Can you say "people hold/possess/earned/own a university degree? Are all these forms correct?
– user349617
May 25 at 23:13
I wouldn't use "own", which implies property: can you sell/trade/transfer a degree? PS please edit your post to correct it as per @jsw29's comment.
– Chappo
May 25 at 23:42
add a comment
|
I would like to say "people hold a university degree". Can I paraphrase it as "people earned/possess/own a uni degree"?
Also is it possible to say "He attained/achieved a higher degree of education than the others?"
Thanks!
word-usage
asked May 25 at 20:33
user349617user349617
62 bronze badges
I would like to say "people hold a university degree". Can I paraphrase it as "people earned/possess/own a uni degree"?
Also is it possible to say "He attained/achieved a higher degree of education than the others?"
Thanks!
word-usage
word-usage
asked May 25 at 20:33
user349617user349617
62 bronze badges
asked May 25 at 20:33
user349617user349617
62 bronze badges
edited May 26 at 9:00
user349617
asked May 25 at 20:33
user349617user349617
62 bronze badges
asked May 25 at 20:33
user349617user349617
62 bronze badges
asked May 25 at 20:33
user349617user349617
62 bronze badges
62 bronze badges
closed as off-topic by JJJ, Jason Bassford, Chappo, Chenmunka, Mari-Lou A Jun 1 at 16:49
This question appears to be off-topic. The users who voted to close gave this specific reason:
- "Proofreading questions are off-topic unless a specific source of concern in the text is clearly identified." – Chenmunka, Mari-Lou A
If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.
closed as off-topic by JJJ, Jason Bassford, Chappo, Chenmunka, Mari-Lou A Jun 1 at 16:49
This question appears to be off-topic. The users who voted to close gave this specific reason:
- "Proofreading questions are off-topic unless a specific source of concern in the text is clearly identified." – Chenmunka, Mari-Lou A
If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.
closed as off-topic by JJJ, Jason Bassford, Chappo, Chenmunka, Mari-Lou A Jun 1 at 16:49
This question appears to be off-topic. The users who voted to close gave this specific reason:
- "Proofreading questions are off-topic unless a specific source of concern in the text is clearly identified." – Chenmunka, Mari-Lou A
If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.
Thanks. Can you say "people hold/possess/earned/own a university degree? Are all these forms correct?
– user349617
May 25 at 23:13
I wouldn't use "own", which implies property: can you sell/trade/transfer a degree? PS please edit your post to correct it as per @jsw29's comment.
– Chappo
May 25 at 23:42
add a comment
|
Thanks. Can you say "people hold/possess/earned/own a university degree? Are all these forms correct?
– user349617
May 25 at 23:13
I wouldn't use "own", which implies property: can you sell/trade/transfer a degree? PS please edit your post to correct it as per @jsw29's comment.
– Chappo
May 25 at 23:42
Thanks. Can you say "people hold/possess/earned/own a university degree? Are all these forms correct?
– user349617
May 25 at 23:13
Thanks. Can you say "people hold/possess/earned/own a university degree? Are all these forms correct?
– user349617
May 25 at 23:13
I wouldn't use "own", which implies property: can you sell/trade/transfer a degree? PS please edit your post to correct it as per @jsw29's comment.
– Chappo
May 25 at 23:42
I wouldn't use "own", which implies property: can you sell/trade/transfer a degree? PS please edit your post to correct it as per @jsw29's comment.
– Chappo
May 25 at 23:42
add a comment
|
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
There are several questions here.
(1) Can one replace hold a university degree with has earned a university degree?
Yes, the two terms are interchangeable, insofar as one holds a degree if and only if one has earned it (setting aside some highly unusual scenarios). The two terms, however, direct the attention of the audience in subtly different directions. If one uses hold, one is focusing on the present, on the fact that the person has the degree now, and is thus, for example, qualified to take some job. If one uses has earned, one focuses on the past, on the process of working towards the degree (it may thus be a particularly apt term to use if one is describing how hard somebody worked to get the degree).
(2) Can one replace hold a university degree with possess a university degree?
Yes, one would be readily understood if one used possess. It is, however, not clear why one would want to do that; hold is likely to sound better in most contexts.
(3) Can one replace hold a university degree with own a university degree?
No, using own would be awkward, for the reason pointed out by Chappo in the comments. Saying that something is owned would normally be understood to imply that it can be bought and sold.
(4) Can one say 'He attained/achieved a higher degree of education than the others'?
Yes, but is should be noted that degree has a different meaning there than in the other questions. One can speak of 'a higher degree of education' even in a context that deals with informal education, in which no degrees (in the sense in which the word is used in (1)-(3)) are awarded.
answered May 26 at 17:30
jsw29jsw29
1,3394 silver badges20 bronze badges
Amazing! Thanks a lot jsw29. I really appreciate your detailed answer!
– user349617
May 27 at 20:43
add a comment
|
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
There are several questions here.
(1) Can one replace hold a university degree with has earned a university degree?
Yes, the two terms are interchangeable, insofar as one holds a degree if and only if one has earned it (setting aside some highly unusual scenarios). The two terms, however, direct the attention of the audience in subtly different directions. If one uses hold, one is focusing on the present, on the fact that the person has the degree now, and is thus, for example, qualified to take some job. If one uses has earned, one focuses on the past, on the process of working towards the degree (it may thus be a particularly apt term to use if one is describing how hard somebody worked to get the degree).
(2) Can one replace hold a university degree with possess a university degree?
Yes, one would be readily understood if one used possess. It is, however, not clear why one would want to do that; hold is likely to sound better in most contexts.
(3) Can one replace hold a university degree with own a university degree?
No, using own would be awkward, for the reason pointed out by Chappo in the comments. Saying that something is owned would normally be understood to imply that it can be bought and sold.
(4) Can one say 'He attained/achieved a higher degree of education than the others'?
Yes, but is should be noted that degree has a different meaning there than in the other questions. One can speak of 'a higher degree of education' even in a context that deals with informal education, in which no degrees (in the sense in which the word is used in (1)-(3)) are awarded.
answered May 26 at 17:30
jsw29jsw29
1,3394 silver badges20 bronze badges
Amazing! Thanks a lot jsw29. I really appreciate your detailed answer!
– user349617
May 27 at 20:43
add a comment
|
There are several questions here.
(1) Can one replace hold a university degree with has earned a university degree?
Yes, the two terms are interchangeable, insofar as one holds a degree if and only if one has earned it (setting aside some highly unusual scenarios). The two terms, however, direct the attention of the audience in subtly different directions. If one uses hold, one is focusing on the present, on the fact that the person has the degree now, and is thus, for example, qualified to take some job. If one uses has earned, one focuses on the past, on the process of working towards the degree (it may thus be a particularly apt term to use if one is describing how hard somebody worked to get the degree).
(2) Can one replace hold a university degree with possess a university degree?
Yes, one would be readily understood if one used possess. It is, however, not clear why one would want to do that; hold is likely to sound better in most contexts.
(3) Can one replace hold a university degree with own a university degree?
No, using own would be awkward, for the reason pointed out by Chappo in the comments. Saying that something is owned would normally be understood to imply that it can be bought and sold.
(4) Can one say 'He attained/achieved a higher degree of education than the others'?
Yes, but is should be noted that degree has a different meaning there than in the other questions. One can speak of 'a higher degree of education' even in a context that deals with informal education, in which no degrees (in the sense in which the word is used in (1)-(3)) are awarded.
answered May 26 at 17:30
jsw29jsw29
1,3394 silver badges20 bronze badges
Amazing! Thanks a lot jsw29. I really appreciate your detailed answer!
– user349617
May 27 at 20:43
add a comment
|
There are several questions here.
(1) Can one replace hold a university degree with has earned a university degree?
Yes, the two terms are interchangeable, insofar as one holds a degree if and only if one has earned it (setting aside some highly unusual scenarios). The two terms, however, direct the attention of the audience in subtly different directions. If one uses hold, one is focusing on the present, on the fact that the person has the degree now, and is thus, for example, qualified to take some job. If one uses has earned, one focuses on the past, on the process of working towards the degree (it may thus be a particularly apt term to use if one is describing how hard somebody worked to get the degree).
(2) Can one replace hold a university degree with possess a university degree?
Yes, one would be readily understood if one used possess. It is, however, not clear why one would want to do that; hold is likely to sound better in most contexts.
(3) Can one replace hold a university degree with own a university degree?
No, using own would be awkward, for the reason pointed out by Chappo in the comments. Saying that something is owned would normally be understood to imply that it can be bought and sold.
(4) Can one say 'He attained/achieved a higher degree of education than the others'?
Yes, but is should be noted that degree has a different meaning there than in the other questions. One can speak of 'a higher degree of education' even in a context that deals with informal education, in which no degrees (in the sense in which the word is used in (1)-(3)) are awarded.
answered May 26 at 17:30
jsw29jsw29
1,3394 silver badges20 bronze badges
There are several questions here.
(1) Can one replace hold a university degree with has earned a university degree?
Yes, the two terms are interchangeable, insofar as one holds a degree if and only if one has earned it (setting aside some highly unusual scenarios). The two terms, however, direct the attention of the audience in subtly different directions. If one uses hold, one is focusing on the present, on the fact that the person has the degree now, and is thus, for example, qualified to take some job. If one uses has earned, one focuses on the past, on the process of working towards the degree (it may thus be a particularly apt term to use if one is describing how hard somebody worked to get the degree).
(2) Can one replace hold a university degree with possess a university degree?
Yes, one would be readily understood if one used possess. It is, however, not clear why one would want to do that; hold is likely to sound better in most contexts.
(3) Can one replace hold a university degree with own a university degree?
No, using own would be awkward, for the reason pointed out by Chappo in the comments. Saying that something is owned would normally be understood to imply that it can be bought and sold.
(4) Can one say 'He attained/achieved a higher degree of education than the others'?
Yes, but is should be noted that degree has a different meaning there than in the other questions. One can speak of 'a higher degree of education' even in a context that deals with informal education, in which no degrees (in the sense in which the word is used in (1)-(3)) are awarded.
answered May 26 at 17:30
jsw29jsw29
1,3394 silver badges20 bronze badges
answered May 26 at 17:30
jsw29jsw29
1,3394 silver badges20 bronze badges
answered May 26 at 17:30
jsw29jsw29
1,3394 silver badges20 bronze badges
answered May 26 at 17:30
jsw29jsw29
1,3394 silver badges20 bronze badges
1,3394 silver badges20 bronze badges
Amazing! Thanks a lot jsw29. I really appreciate your detailed answer!
– user349617
May 27 at 20:43
add a comment
|
Amazing! Thanks a lot jsw29. I really appreciate your detailed answer!
– user349617
May 27 at 20:43
Amazing! Thanks a lot jsw29. I really appreciate your detailed answer!
– user349617
May 27 at 20:43
Amazing! Thanks a lot jsw29. I really appreciate your detailed answer!
– user349617
May 27 at 20:43
add a comment
|
Thanks. Can you say "people hold/possess/earned/own a university degree? Are all these forms correct?
– user349617
May 25 at 23:13
I wouldn't use "own", which implies property: can you sell/trade/transfer a degree? PS please edit your post to correct it as per @jsw29's comment.
– Chappo
May 25 at 23:42