a very small age

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a very small age" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone who is at a young stage in life, typically referring to infants or very young children. Example: "At a very small age, she showed remarkable talent in music."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Formal & Business

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

From a very small age she was passionate about music and art, but life took her in another direction: the banking system.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

"There is now early evidence -- not at all definitive -- that shows somewhat better outcomes for kids who are not in these very small age-range schools," Meisels said.

Los Angeles Times

Only a very small number were aged over 30.

The Guardian

"Right now we have a fleet, a very small fleet of ageing icebreakers.

The Guardian

Cleft lip alone generally has no significant effects on hospitalizations beyond 29 years of age (only a very small and marginally significant effect for the 30-39 agroupoup).

BMC Health Services Research

When comparing SAAID levels before and after treatment, the results show a negligible increase on young volunteers of Group I (age < 35 years, Figure 5(b)), a very small increase on Group II (35 years < age < 60 years, Figure 5(c)), and a strong increase on Group III (age > 60 years, Figure 5(d)).

BioMed Research International

Watching more than three hours' TV a day at this age predicted a very small increase in "conduct" problems at the age of seven.

BBC

However, as the number of adolescents treated for hyperkinetic disorder decreases dramatically with age [ 41], the great majority of patients on medication are in the age group < 15 years, with only a very small number of adolescents ≥ 15 years of age being treated for this disorder.

Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health

It is very likely that only a very small fraction of the age-associated epigenetic drift is of functional consequence, with the few functional changes ultimately affecting key transcriptional regulators, thus compromising stem cell differentiation (55) or predisposing cells to neoplastic transformation (74).

Human Molecular Genetics

"Direct immigration of pupils born outside the UK has a very small effect on the school age population," the Department for Education report says.

BBC

The reason for the apparent discrepancy may lie in the fact that most patients included in the study by Kastrinaki et al. (2008) [ 25] had undergone treatment and those who had not undergone treatment were a very small number with a wide age range.

Arthritis Research and Therapy

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "a very small age", consider if a more common and readily understood alternative, such as "a young age" or "an early age", might improve clarity for your audience.

Common error

Avoid using "very" excessively. While grammatically correct, relying too heavily on "very" can weaken your writing. In some contexts, consider stronger adjectives or adverbs to convey the meaning more effectively. For instance, instead of "a very small age", you might use "a tender age" or "an immature age".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a very small age" functions as an adjective phrase modifying the noun 'age'. It specifies a particular period in the lifespan, emphasizing youthfulness. Ludwig AI indicates that this usage is grammatically sound.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Academia

10%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a very small age" is a grammatically correct phrase used to denote the early years of life. Ludwig AI validates its correctness, although it's less common than alternatives like "a young age" or "an early age". Its purpose is descriptive, highlighting the initial phase of development or the commencement of an activity. While understandable, it might benefit from being replaced by more common alternatives in order to improve clarity and impact. The phrase is suitable for a neutral register, appearing in various contexts such as news, science and general discourse.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a young age

Replaces "very small" with the more common adjective "young", simplifying the phrase while maintaining its core meaning.

a tender age

Uses "tender" to emphasize the vulnerability and delicateness associated with being young.

an early age

Focuses on the temporal aspect of being at the beginning of life, rather than the size or degree of youth.

a youthful age

Highlights the characteristic qualities associated with youth.

a minor age

Emphasizes the legal or developmental status of being underage.

an immature age

Focuses on the lack of maturity associated with being young.

the dawn of life

Employs a metaphorical expression to convey the beginning stages of existence.

the early years of life

Expands the phrase to refer to a broader period of initial development.

the infancy stage

Specifically refers to the earliest period of childhood, infancy.

a nascent age

Uses "nascent" to highlight the emerging and developing nature of youth.

FAQs

What does "a very small age" mean?

The phrase "a very small age" refers to the early period of someone's life, typically meaning infancy or early childhood. It emphasizes that someone is at a young stage of development.

Is it better to say "a young age" or "a very small age"?

While both phrases are grammatically correct, "a young age" is more common and generally preferred for its simplicity and clarity. "A very small age" can sound somewhat redundant.

What are some alternatives to "a very small age"?

Alternatives include "an early age", "a tender age", or simply "youth". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you wish to convey.

How can I use "a very small age" in a sentence?

You might say, "From "a very small age", she displayed a remarkable talent for music." This indicates that her musical talent was evident from early childhood.