Quick answer: Use freshmen when referring to the students themselves as a plural group. Use freshman class when referring to the collective academic cohort or year level as a singular entity. Never use “freshmans.”
It is one of the most common stumbling blocks in American academic writing. You are drafting an email to the school board, updating a university website, or writing a speech for orientation week, and you pause. Do you write about the freshmen arriving on campus, or the freshman class making its debut? The confusion stems from the irregular pluralization of the word “freshman” and the subtle grammatical shift that occurs when we attach it to the word “class.” Getting this wrong can make your writing look amateurish, especially in formal educational contexts where precision matters. I have corrected this specific error in thousands of student essays and institutional communications over my career as a copy editor, and the rule is actually quite simple once you understand the underlying grammar.
| Term | Meaning / When to use | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Freshmen | Plural noun referring to multiple first-year students individually or as a group of people. | The freshmen were excited to explore the campus library during orientation. |
| Freshman class | Singular collective noun referring to the entire cohort of first-year students as a single unit. | The freshman class of 2026 broke all previous enrollment records. |
| Freshman | Singular noun referring to one first-year student, or an adjective modifying another noun. | She is a diligent freshman who attends every lecture. |
When to use freshmen
The word freshmen is the standard plural form of the singular noun freshman. In English, many compound nouns ending in “-man” follow an irregular pluralization pattern where the “a” changes to an “e” (e.g., man/men, woman/women, policeman/policemen). Therefore, when you are talking about more than one first-year student, you must use freshmen.
This term focuses on the individuals within the group. It is appropriate when you are discussing the actions, feelings, or characteristics of the students as people. If you can replace the word with “students” or “they,” then freshmen is likely the correct choice. According to Wikipedia, the term traditionally refers to a first-year student in high school, college, or university, and its plural form has remained consistent in American English for over a century.
Here are three concrete examples of how to use freshmen correctly in real-world scenarios:
- In a campus newsletter: “The incoming freshmen are required to attend the health and safety workshop before classes begin.” (Here, you are referring to the individual students who must attend.)
- In a casual text message: “I’m meeting up with some of the freshmen from my dorm floor to grab pizza.” (You are referring to specific people.)
- In a faculty memo: “Please ensure that all freshmen have received their ID cards by Friday afternoon.” (The action applies to each individual student.)
Note that you should never use “freshmans.” This is a hypercorrection error where writers try to apply the standard “-s” plural rule to an irregular noun. It is always incorrect in standard English. Similarly, avoid using “freshmen’s” unless you are indicating possession (e.g., “the freshmen’s lounge”).
When to use freshman class
The phrase freshman class functions differently. Here, freshman acts as an attributive noun (or adjective) modifying the head noun class. The word class is singular, so the entire phrase is treated as a singular collective noun. This distinction is crucial because it changes the verb agreement in your sentence.
When you use freshman class, you are viewing the group as a single, unified entity rather than a collection of individuals. This is common when discussing statistics, enrollment numbers, historical comparisons, or the group’s collective identity. If you can replace the phrase with “the group” or “it,” then freshman class is the correct choice. The concept of a “class” as a social or academic grouping is well-documented in sociological and educational literature, as noted in the broader definition of Class, which discusses how groups are categorized and structured within institutions.
Consider these examples where freshman class is the only grammatically sound option:
- In a press release: “The 2026 freshman class is the most diverse in the university’s history.” (You are describing the attributes of the single cohort.)
- In a budget report: “Funding for the freshman class has been increased by 15% to support new orientation programs.” (The funding is allocated to the unit, not distributed individually in this context.)
- In a speech: “Welcome to the freshman class of Lincoln High School; you are now part of a legacy that spans decades.” (You are addressing the group as a whole.)
Notice that even though the class contains hundreds of students, the verb remains singular (“is,” “has been,” “you are” addressed to the group entity). Using “freshmen class” is a common error. While you might hear it in casual speech, it is grammatically incorrect because you do not pluralize the modifier when the head noun is singular. You would not say “students class,” so you should not say “freshmen class.”
How to remember the difference
If you find yourself hesitating between these two terms, use this simple editor’s trick: The “S” Test.
Look at the word immediately following the term in question.
- If the next word is a plural verb (like are, were, have) or if you are referring to the people directly, use freshmen (which ends in an ‘s’ sound and represents multiple people).
- If the next word is class, year, or cohort, use freshman (singular modifier).
Another effective mnemonic is to think of the word freshman like the word tooth.
- One tooth -> Two teeth.
- One freshman -> Two freshmen.
Now, think of class like the word box.
- One box -> Two boxes.
- One freshman class -> Two freshman classes.
Notice that in “freshman classes,” the word freshman stays singular because it is still just describing the type of class. You never say “teeth box,” so you never say “freshmen class.” This analogy helps separate the irregular plural of the person from the regular plural of the container (the class).
I often tell my clients to visualize a name tag. If you are handing out name tags, you are dealing with freshmen (individuals). If you are taking a group photo of everyone standing together under a banner, you are photographing the freshman class (a single unit).
Common mistakes and exceptions
Even experienced writers stumble over a few edge cases. Here are the most frequent errors I encounter in professional editing, along with how to fix them.
Error 1: “The freshmen class is…”
Why it’s wrong: As established, freshman acts as an adjective here. Adjectives in English do not take plural forms. We say “car door,” not “cars door,” even if there are many cars. Correction: “The freshman class is…”
Error 2: “There are 500 freshmans in the auditorium.”
Why it’s wrong: “Freshmans” is not a word. The plural of man is men, so the plural of freshman is freshmen. Correction: “There are 500 freshmen in the auditorium.”
Error 3: Possessive Confusion
Why it’s wrong: Writers often struggle with where to put the apostrophe. Correction:
- If the lounge belongs to the students collectively: “The freshmen’s lounge.” (Plural possessive)
- If the roster belongs to the class entity: “The freshman class’s roster.” (Singular possessive of the phrase)
US vs. UK Differences
It is important to note that the term freshman is primarily used in the United States and Canada. In the United Kingdom and many other Commonwealth countries, the equivalent term is usually “first-year student” or simply “first year.” Consequently, you will rarely see “freshmen” or “freshman class” in British academic writing. If you are writing for an international audience, consider using “first-year students” to avoid confusion entirely. However, if you are writing for a US-based institution, sticking to the traditional terminology is expected and preferred.
Gender-Neutral Language
Historically, freshman was gendered male, with freshwoman occasionally used for females. Today, most institutions prefer gender-neutral language. While freshman and freshmen are still widely accepted and used as gender-neutral terms in many contexts, some universities are shifting toward “first-year student” (plural: “first-year students”) to be explicitly inclusive. If your style guide mandates gender-neutral language, check if “first-year” is preferred. If you do use freshman, know that it is currently considered acceptable as a neutral term in most American style guides, including AP and Chicago, though trends are evolving.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is “freshmen” singular or plural? Freshmen is strictly plural. It refers to two or more first-year students. The singular form is freshman.
Can I say “freshmen class”? No, this is grammatically incorrect. The correct phrase is freshman class because freshman functions as a singular adjective modifying the noun class.
What is the plural of “freshman class”? The plural is freshman classes. For example, “We compared the retention rates of the 2024 and 2025 freshman classes.” Note that freshman remains singular in the modifier position.
Is it okay to use “frosh” instead? “Frosh” is a colloquial slang term for freshmen, commonly used in casual conversation or informal campus marketing. It should generally be avoided in formal academic writing, official reports, or professional correspondence unless you are intentionally adopting a playful, informal tone.
Anthony Perez, a PhD in Applied Linguistics from the University of Toronto, has dedicated over 12 years to studying the cognitive aspects of language acquisition, with a special focus on English spelling conventions. His journey into the world of spelling and word comparisons was sparked by his research on how non-native speakers adapt to English orthography. At SpellRightDaily, Anthony shares his insights through content that explores the science behind spelling acquisition and offers strategies for overcoming common traps in English spelling. His articles are particularly aimed at learners who are new to English, although his engaging explanations also attract native speakers interested in refining their spelling skills. Anthony’s research-driven approach provides an evidence-based perspective that enriches the site’s resources, offering readers not just the ‘how’ but the ‘why’ behind effective spelling strategies. His work at SpellRightDaily combines academic rigor with practical application, making complex concepts accessible to a broad audience.