70
Mrs. Bluezette's Grammar Guide
graduate from
Let's begin today's lesson with a question from John in Jacksonville,
Florida.
"Several of the bios for anchors and reporters at KTTV in Los
Angeles say that the journalist `was graduated' from a university
or college. Wouldn't saying that Jane Doe `was graduated' from
University A sound like a thing, rather than a person, had gone
through school? At this point, I'm convinced that they should be
saying Jane Doe `graduated' from University A."
Either "was graduated from" or "graduated from" is correct.
What ISN'T correct is leaving out the "from."
v
Mrs. B WAS GRADUATED FROM a small college in West
Virginia.
v
Mr. B GRADUATED FROM a big university in Florida.
The "from" is always needed unless the school is also left out.
v
Mr. and Mrs. B GRADUATED from college in the late `60s.
That, no doubt, makes them older and wiser, which brings to mind a
quotation Mrs. B leaves you with today.
"By three methods we may learn wisdom: first, by reflection,
which is noblest; second, by imitation, which is easiest; and
third, by experience, which is the bitterest."
--Confucius, philosopher and teacher (c. 551-478 BCE)
