[Editors] attained or obtained?

[Teresa Lynne Hill]

I'd say attained, because an academic degree is an achievement, not a commodity.

-----Original Message-----
From: editors-bounces at MIT.EDU [mailto:editors-bounces at MIT.EDU] On Behalf Of Clarise Snyder
Sent: Friday, October 01, 2010 7:48 PM
To: Jennifer Schmitt
Cc: editors at mit.edu
Subject: Re: [Editors] attained or obtained?

I would say that I earned all my academic degrees. (!)

Sent from my iPhone
Clarise

On Oct 1, 2010, at 5:55 PM, Jennifer Schmitt <schmittj at MIT.EDU> wrote:

> One means to get or aquire (obtain). The other means to achieve something (attain).
> 
> On Oct 1, 2010, at 5:52 PM, Marilyn C Wilson wrote:
> 
>> Okay editors, do any of you know if there is there a proper distinction, archaic or otherwise, between “attain” and “obtain” as in:
>> 
>> “the degree attained” and “the degree obtained”   ?
>> 
>> They are both out there in abundance, and seem to be used interchangeably, sometimes in the same sentence or paragraph.  “Degree” seems to work with both, but “certificate” for instance only sounds right with obtained. 
>> 
>> Thanks, and may you all attain a great weekend --
>> Marilyn   
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Marilyn C. Wilson, PhD
>> Sr. Career Development Specialist, Career Services
>> MIT Global Education and Career Development
>> 617-258-9149
>> mcwilson at mit.edu
>> 
>> <image002.jpg>
>> 
>> 
>> <ATT00001..c>
> 
> 
> 
> 
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