Did you graduate or were you graduated?

[Bossy Monkey]

I'm willing to accept intellectually that the latter has the greater pedigree and is probably correct. However, I did the damn work, so if "I graduated" is incorrect, then we need a new word that can be expressed in the active voice, dangit. (Amer. Heritage Dictionary confirms that "was graduated" is correct and older; you can look it up at bartleby.com or by googling "graduate" and clicking on the definition hypertext. More of the Usage Panel preferred the former, though, so there.)

[tjwmason]

1. I think that I was graduated - but I'll have to check.

I just knelt down in front of the Vice-Chancellor who tapped me on the head with a doctoral birreta dating back to the 16th century and said "et super te". He had used a longer formula on the first graduand which I can't remember right now, and would have to look up once I get home.

[jmm]

2. It depends on what you want to emphasize

I was graduated implies a diploma was given to me but since I earned mine I graduated :D.

[Bossy Monkey]

4. The etymology is kind of freaky

I don't feel like looking it up again, but if I remember correctly from last night, the word comes from Middle English, meaning to confer a degree, but in turn from Latin, meaning to get a degree. However, as the word turned out, as in graduated cylinder, it's sort of like graded on steroids. As such, it still calls for the passive voice. I still think we need a new word, some synonym for escape or conquer, say.

[Mutley]

3. The active voice is better in general unless you've a specific purpose.

Screw tradition. :D

[NewWaveChick1981]

5. Hey, I EARNED that degree!

I GRADUATED from high school, college, and college again. :)

[SteppingRazor]

6. If you really want both active tense and tradition...

you can easily rephrase that.

"The University of Missouri graduated me."

See? All better.

[Hugin]

7. I beg your pardon...

I for one Matriculated!

The hurting never stops, ever.

[hunter]

8. You are graduated, now get the hell out.

It was just like that.

[Ravenseye]

9. I drank

I finished my last final and then went out partying. Some time later, I don't recall when, they sent my degree all wrapped up nice and neat to my parents address. Whether I graduated or was graduated....who knows. I never went to the ceremony. All I know is that I did my time and got my piece of paper for it.

[Bossy Monkey]

10. How many kidneys do you have?

(Just kidding, I hope)

[Ravenseye]

11. 2

I drank like a chimney and smoked like a fish for about 10 years, then just smoked like a fish for about 4 more years after that. Now I rarely drink or smoke. If the booze is free and flowing and someone is there to bum me smokes (like at a wedding) I'll smoke and get sloshed, but that's pretty infrequent.

All kidneys, liver, lungs...low cholesterol and blood pressure.

Other than having to lose some weight, my balding head and eczema, i'm the picture of health.

Good times. Good times.

[KitchenWitch]

12. I am a graduate!

HAH!

[SOteric]

13. Eye wuz grajeeated.

Don't eye sownd inteelekshul?

[otherlander]

14. No.

[mvd]

15. From high school and college

High school with honors - and college with some improvement in the last 2 years.

[Bossy Monkey]

16. But did you graduate or were you graduated?

It wasn't an "I'm curious, DUers..." question but an English usage question.

[mvd]

17. OK.. I graduated

Thought that was evident from how I used it. :-)

[pokerfan]

18. None of the above

I was released.