about the same age

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "about the same age" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when comparing the ages of two or more people or things that are similar in age. Example: "My brother and I are about the same age, so we often share similar interests."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Opinion

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

We were all about the same age".

The New York Times - Sports

"They're about the same age," Calipari said.

The New York Times

"The girls are about the same age.

The New York Times

Sanders and Biden are about the same age.

The Washington Post

I was about the same age as Ellease.

The New York Times - Books

She and the woman were about the same age.

The Washington Post

I died about the same age you did, Anne.

The New York Times - Books

(Townes and the band are about the same age).

The New Yorker

He was about the same age as Robin".

The Guardian - Books

"Just about the same age as Ronald Reagan," he said.

The Guardian

"So we asked for a boy about the same age".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When comparing ages, ensure clarity by specifying who or what you are comparing. For instance, "John is "about the same age" as his brother."

Common error

Avoid using "about the same age" without providing context. Saying "They are "about the same age"" lacks specific information. Always specify who or what is being compared to avoid ambiguity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "about the same age" functions as a prepositional phrase modifying a noun or pronoun. It indicates a comparison of age between two or more subjects. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread use.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

79%

Academia

7%

Science

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Opinion

2%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "about the same age" is a versatile and commonly used expression for indicating an age similarity between two or more subjects. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is grammatically correct and widely accepted. It appears frequently in news articles and books. While alternatives like "approximately the same age" or "nearly the same age" exist, "about the same age" strikes a balance between formality and casualness. When using this phrase, remember to provide clear context for the comparison to avoid ambiguity. Its prevalence across diverse sources underscores its importance in effectively conveying age-related similarities.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

roughly the same age

Uses "roughly" as a synonym for "about", indicating an approximation.

approximately the same age

Replaces "about" with "approximately" for a more formal tone.

nearly the same age

Substitutes "about" with "nearly", emphasizing the closeness in age.

around the same age

Employs "around" in place of "about", suggesting an approximate age range.

of similar age

Alters the structure to use "similar" as an adjective, changing the word order.

comparable in age

Uses "comparable" to indicate the ages are alike.

in the same age bracket

Focuses on belonging to a specific age group.

virtually the same age

Replaces "about" with "virtually", emphasizing that age proximity is so close it can be considered identical.

more or less the same age

Uses the expression "more or less", conveying an idea of approximation and similarity.

in a similar age group

Similar to "in the same age bracket" but uses different phrasing

FAQs

How can I rephrase "about the same age" to sound more formal?

In formal writing, you can substitute "about" with "approximately", resulting in "approximately the same age". This adds a touch of precision.

What's a simpler way to say "about the same age"?

A simpler alternative is "nearly the same age" or "around the same age", which are both more casual and equally understandable.

Is it always necessary to use "about" in the phrase "about the same age"?

No, you can also say "virtually the same age" or "nearly the same age". The word "about" adds a degree of imprecision, but it's not essential.

How does "about the same age" differ from "of similar age"?

"About the same age" directly compares two entities, while "of similar age" focuses on the similarity in age as a characteristic. The latter is often used to describe a group rather than a pair.