Which one is correct?
"first-year students" or "first year students"?

Question

Which one is correct?
"first-year students" or "first year students"?

TextRanch: The best way to perfect your writing.

Discover why 1,062,726 users count on TextRanch to get their English corrected!

One of our experts will correct your English.

100% Human-Powered Editing!

This phrase is used to refer to students who are in their first year of study at a school, college, or university.

Examples:

First-year students often struggle with the transition to university life.
The orientation program is designed to help first-year students adapt to campus life.
The first-year students attended a welcome event organized by the university.
She is a first-year student majoring in biology.
The first-year students formed study groups to prepare for their exams.

Alternatives:

freshmen
first-year undergraduates
first-year pupils
first-year learners
first-year scholars

This phrase is also used to describe students who are in their first year of study, but without the hyphen between "first" and "year."

Examples:

The first year students participated in a campus tour.
She is teaching a course for first year students.
First year students often find the workload challenging.
The university welcomed a new batch of first year students.
The first year students organized a charity event.

Alternatives:

freshmen
first-year students
first-year undergraduates
first-year pupils
first-year learners

Both "first-year students" and "first year students" are correct, but they are used in different contexts. "First-year students" is commonly used to describe students in their first year of study, while "first year students" can be used to refer to students in their first year without the hyphen.

Last Updated: March 29, 2024