Here's why:
* Fellow usually refers to a person who holds a fellowship, a specific type of grant or award.
* PhD students are typically called PhD candidates or doctoral students.
Here are some more accurate terms:
* PhD candidate: This is the most common and accurate term for someone pursuing a PhD degree.
* Doctoral student: This term is used for students pursuing any doctorate degree, including PhDs.
* Doctoral candidate: This term is also accurate, but slightly less common than "PhD candidate."
When might "PhD fellow" be used?
* In some contexts, "PhD fellow" might be used to refer to someone who is a PhD candidate who holds a fellowship. This is a bit ambiguous, so it's better to clarify the specific type of fellowship if possible.
In general, it's best to avoid using "PhD fellow" and stick to the standard terminology.