Common Mistakes : Age

Age – Noun

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BAD: I’m at the age of 22

(GOOD: I’m 22 (years old

(be + NUMBER (+ years old ): ‘David is almost twelve (years old

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BAD: His age is about fifty-five years old

(GOOD: He’s about fifty-five (years old

Do not use age and years old together. The usual way of mentioning someone’s age is simply be + NUMBER: ‘She’ll be sixteen next August

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BAD: Soon you’ll be of my age

GOOD: Soon you’ll be my age

BAD: Although we are at the same age, we have different interests

GOOD: Although we are the same age, we have different interests

be my/your etc age : When I was your age, I was already going out to work

be the same age (as sb) : Most of my friends are the same age as me

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BAD: In the age of 15, you are allowed to drive a car

GOOD: At the age of 15, you are allowed to drive a car

Phrases with age as their main word usually begin with at (NOT in ): ‘Keeping fit is very important at your age.’ ‘Some girls get married at a very young age.’ She is at the age when she wants to go to school

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BAD: A child in the age of seven or eight needs a little push

GOOD: A child of seven or eight needs a little push

BAD: People in my age spend a lot of time in pubs

GOOD: People of my age spend a lot of time in pubs

noun + of + NUMBER: They have a little girl of three and a boy of five

noun + of + my/your etc age : ‘He is very clever for a boy of his age.’ A girl of her age needs someone to play with

Note the alternative with aged : A child aged seven or eight needs a little push

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BAD: They have two children in the age of 8 and 12 years

GOOD: They have two children aged 8 and 12

GOOD: They have two children, 8 and 12 years of age

When you mention two ages after a noun, use either of the following
aged + NUMBER + and + NUMBER: two boys aged 12 and 14
NUMBER + and + NUMBER + years of age : two boys, 12 and 14 years of age

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BAD: These books are for children at the age of from 8 to 12 years

GOOD: These books are for children aged 8 to 12

GOOD: These books are for children between the ages of 8 and 12

When you mention an age range after a noun, use either aged + NUMBER + to + NUMBER: suitable for children aged seven to eleven

or between the ages of + NUMBER + and + NUMBER: suitable for children between the ages of seven and eleven