What is the opposite of a college graduate?

Question

What is the opposite of a college graduate?
Is it a non-college graduate?
Is it a non-college-graduate?
Much more often than not, in situations like this one, involving lots of two-word phrases, not just "college graduate", the first answer is the one that is used.
But it seems to refer to a graduate of a non-college.

The second seems more logical but I don't think I ever see it.

This question comes up also with some prefixes otehr than non-.
Posters should say where they live, and for which
area they are asking questions. I have lived in
Western Pa. 10 years
Indianapolis 10 years
Chicago 6 years
Brooklyn, NY 12 years
Baltimore 26 years

Usenet · Accepted Answer

[nq:1]What is the opposite of a college graduate? Is it a non-college graduate? Is it a non-college-graduate? Much more often ... logical but I don't think I ever see it. This question comes up also with some prefixes otehr than non-.[/nq]
Depending on what exactly education level the person in question has, I would use the highest attained to describe them. If they attended college, but did not graduate, I'd use "college non-graduate". Otherwise, I'd say "high-school graduate" (or whatever highest school they graduated from - middle, elementary, kindergarten etc.).

You'd be crazy to e-mail me with the crazy. But leave the div alone.

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]What is the opposite of a college graduate? Is it ... question comes up also with some prefixes otehr than non-.[/nq]
[nq:1]Depending on what exactly education level the person in question has, I would use the highest attained to describe them. ... use "college non-graduate". Otherwise, I'd say "high-school graduate" (or whatever highest school they graduated from - middle, elementary, kindergarten etc.).[/nq]
You know, you don't have to do it that way. You can write "He did not attend college". Usually, when the person being referred to did not complete a degree program, the phrasing is "He attended college".

Also, the opposite of "a college graduate" is "not a college graduate". Simple.

Tony Cooper - Orlando, Florida

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]Depending on what exactly education level the person in question ... highest school they graduated from - middle, elementary, kindergarten etc.).[/nq]
[nq:1]You know, you don't have to do it that way. You can write "He did not attend college". Usually, when ... program, the phrasing is "He attended college". Also, the opposite of "a college graduate" is "not a college graduate". Simple.[/nq]
Thank you for your replies.
This comes up a lot with a lot of different words. Today was just the latest time and this time the words were college graduate.

I've seen other examples in print quite a bit, when others do this, where I think it might even be standard terminology, but the way it was written looked wrong. I'm asking whether there should be one hypen or two.
So for the sake of my desires, can we assume I want to use non- as a prefix for two words, and I want to know the best way to do it.

Posters should say where they live, and for which
area they are asking questions. I have lived in
Western Pa. 10 years
Indianapolis 10 years
Chicago 6 years
Brooklyn, NY 12 years
Baltimore 26 years

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]You know, you don't have to do it that way. ... of "a college graduate" is "not a college graduate". Simple.[/nq]
[nq:1]Thank you for your replies. This comes up a lot with a lot of different words. Today was just the ... to use non- as a prefix for two words, and I want to know the best way to do it.[/nq]
If so, then I would write "non-college-graduate". Reluctantly. A "non-college graduate" is a graduate of something other than a college in my view.
Even this presents difficulties. For example, John is a graduate of the Orlando Barber College and never attended a university. Is he still a "non-college graduate"?

Tony Cooper - Orlando, Florida

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]Even this presents difficulties. For example, John is a graduate of the Orlando Barber College and never attended a university. Is he still a "non-college graduate"?[/nq]
That's just a question of whether a barber college is a college, not of the semantics of "college graduate." You wouldn't have any difficulty deciding whether a poison-ivy-covered house was ivy-covered, would you?

¬R

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]Even this presents difficulties. For example, John is a graduate ... never attended a university. Is he still a "non-college graduate"?[/nq]
[nq:1]That's just a question of whether a barber college is a college,[/nq]
Well, is it? There's a program, a process of learning, tests to be passed, and a piece of paper at the end that indicates successful completion. There's even accreditation: "A barber school or hair design school can be accredited by the National Accrediting Commission for Cosmetology Arts and Sciences (NACCAS). In addition to the NACCAS, the Accrediting Council for Continued Education and Training (ACCET) and the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology (ACCSCT) may also serve as accrediting parties".

A barber college meets dictionary.com's definition #3 of "college":
3. an institution for vocational, technical, or professionalinstruction, as in medicine, pharmacy, agriculture, or music, often a part of a university.
So...is John a college graduate? You can say he is not a university graduate, but can you deny him "college graduate"?
[nq:1]not of the semantics of "college graduate."[/nq]
Isn't it?

Tony Cooper - Orlando, Florida

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]That's just a question of whether a barber college is a college,[/nq]
[nq:1]Well, is it?[/nq]
I didn't say it was an easy question. If it were, I would have given the easy answer.
[nq:1]A barber college meets dictionary.com's definition #3 of "college": 3. an institution for vocational, technical, or professional instruction, as in medicine, pharmacy, agriculture, or music, often a part of a university.[/nq]
I'm not sure it does, given the examples listed in the definition. Colleges in those fields generally have university-level programs. M-W gives a separate definition with a more pertinent examples:
[nq:1]e: an institution offering instruction usually in a professional, vocational, or technical field [/nq]
So maybe the easy answer is yes.
[nq:2]not of the semantics of "college graduate."[/nq]
[nq:1]Isn't it?[/nq]
Is it? Would you expect many people to give different answers to whether a barber college is a college and whether its alumni are college graduates?
¬R Blood is useless, outside its original container. http://users.bestweb.net/~notr/davidcar.html Don Rauf

Usenet · Answer

Interesting qustions. What do you think of the practice of veterinarians introducing themselves as a doctor.
Don't know how common this is but I've seen it a couple times in the last several years. Either saying "I'm Doctor Smith" or "What do you do for a living?" "I'm a doctor........... a veterinarian."
[nq:1]¬R Blood is useless, outside its original container. http://users.bestweb.net/~notr/davidcar.html Don Rauf[/nq]
Posters should say where they live, and for which
area they are asking questions. I have lived in
Western Pa. 10 years
Indianapolis 10 years
Chicago 6 years
Brooklyn, NY 12 years
Baltimore 26 years

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]I didn't say it was an easy question. If it ... is a college and whether its alumni are college graduates?[/nq]
[nq:1]Interesting qustions. What do you think of the practice of veterinarians introducing themselves as a doctor. Don't know how common ... years. Either saying "I'm Doctor Smith" or "What do you do for a living?" "I'm a doctor.. a veterinarian."[/nq]
M-WCD11th
doctor ... 2a: a person skilled or specializing in the healing arts (as a physician, dentist, or veterinarian) who holds an advanced degree and is licensed to practice.

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]What is the opposite of a college graduate? =A0[/nq]
undergraduate
See? More information is needed.
GFH

What is the opposite of a college graduate?

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