about my age

USAGE SUMMARY

"about my age" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to give an indication of a rough age estimate when speaking or writing about someone. For example: "My colleague is a few years older than me - I'd say about my age."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

She was about my age.

The New Yorker

Anthony was about my age.

The New York Times

She looked to be about my age.

The New Yorker

"I don't lie about my age.

The New York Times - Arts

My first complaint is about my age.

The New Yorker

I lied about my age.

The New York Times - Magazine

I'm not so anxious about my age.

The New York Times

"I'm fairly neutral about my age.

The Guardian - Tech

Nobody made any objections about my age.

The Guardian

'I've never lied about my age.

The Guardian

Do I think about my age?

The Guardian - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "about my age", ensure the context makes it clear whose age you are referencing. This avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Don't use "about my age" without establishing a clear reference point for 'my age'. If the context doesn't immediately make it obvious who you are referring to, rephrase to clarify (e.g., "a woman about John's age").

Linguistic Context

The phrase "about my age" functions as a prepositional phrase that modifies a noun or pronoun. According to Ludwig, it is grammatically correct and frequently used. It provides an approximate indication of someone's age relative to the speaker.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

30%

Science

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "about my age" is a common and grammatically sound prepositional phrase used to provide an approximate age comparison. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and widespread usage. The phrase is versatile, appearing frequently in news and media, as well as academic contexts. When using this phrase, ensure clarity regarding whose age is being referenced to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives like "approximately my age" or "around my age" can be used for variety, but "about my age" remains a straightforward and easily understood way to indicate a rough age estimate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

approximately my age

Replaces "about" with "approximately", maintaining the meaning of an estimate.

around my age

Uses "around" instead of "about", offering a slightly more casual feel.

roughly my age

Uses "roughly" instead of "about" indicating an approximation.

my approximate age

Rearranges the words slightly but keeps the original meaning.

the same age as me

Expresses equivalence in age rather than an approximation.

of a similar age to me

Formal alternative using "of a similar age" to convey the same idea.

in my age bracket

Refers to a broader age range that includes the speaker.

close to my age

Indicates that the person is nearly the same age as the speaker.

nearly my age

Suggests the other person's age is very close to the speaker's.

in the same age group as me

Indicates belonging to the same age cohort.

FAQs

What does "about my age" mean?

The phrase "about my age" indicates that someone or something is estimated to be close to the speaker's age. It's used for making approximate age comparisons.

How can I use "about my age" in a sentence?

You might say, "I saw a woman "approximately my age" at the store today", indicating that the woman appeared to be near your own age.

What are some alternatives to "about my age"?

Alternatives include "around my age", "approximately my age", or "of a similar age to me".

Is it appropriate to use "about my age" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "about my age" is generally more suitable for informal contexts. For formal writing, consider using phrases like "of a similar age to me" or "approximately the same age as I am".