age after age

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "age after age" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to convey the idea of something occurring repeatedly or continuously over many generations or periods of time. Example: "The legends of the ancient heroes have been passed down age after age, inspiring countless generations."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

Plaque buildup increased according to age after age 40 in a fairly steady fashion.

The Washington Post

To W. B. Yeats, Shelley's use of such archetypes was proof that he had access to "some great memory that renews the world and men's thoughts age after age".

The New Yorker

All he did was to utter the final lines of his opera: "When righteousness withers away and evil rules the land, we come into being, age after age, and take visible shape, and move, a man among men, for the protection of good, thrusting back evil and setting virtue on her seat again".

The New Yorker

All he did was to utter the final lines of his opera: "When righteousness withers away and evil rules the land, we come into being, age after age, and take visible shape, and move, a man among men, for the protection of good, thrusting back evil and setting virtue on her seat again". He said those words twice more, mingled for a little while, got into a cab, and went home.

The New Yorker

Age after age, the cry for change in the world has continued, and never more so than today.

Huffington Post

Holy is his name, And his faithful love extends age after age to those who fear him.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

In terms of socio-demographics and residential environment characteristics, older respondents (age > 55), as expected, have a lower self-reported physical and social health condition than the reference age group (age 36 55), after all other variables being controlled.

European Transport Research Review

In their prior speed dating study, their results, which were consistent, held even after controlling for age (the age range was 18 to 54).

Huffington Post

This difference persisted after adjustment for age, BMI, age at menarche and number of pregnancies.

BMC Women's Health

This relationship remained significant after adjustment for age, gender, age of CHF onset (standardized-beta 0.091, P = 0.007).

Clinical Research in Cardiology

The problem manifests in different people at various ages, typically starting after age 40, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "age after age" to emphasize the enduring nature of a phenomenon or tradition across long spans of time. For instance, describe how certain values have been upheld "age after age".

Common error

Avoid using "age after age" when simply referring to a short period or repetitive action. The phrase is best reserved for contexts involving significant historical or generational spans.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "age after age" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb, adjective, or another adverb. It specifies the temporal dimension of an action or state, indicating that it occurs repeatedly across long periods of time. Ludwig provides examples of its usage in literary and historical contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Science

38%

Academia

13%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

13%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "age after age" is a grammatically correct and meaningful expression used to convey continuity across long stretches of time. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and provides various examples from news, science, and academic sources, highlighting its relevance in describing enduring phenomena or traditions. Although not the most frequent expression, it effectively emphasizes the lasting nature of something, fitting a neutral to slightly formal register. Related phrases like "throughout the ages" and "from generation to generation" offer similar meanings but with subtle differences in emphasis. Remember to reserve its use for significant historical or generational spans to avoid overgeneralization.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

throughout the ages

This alternative is more general and emphasizes the entirety of history.

throughout history

This alternative is a broad statement that lacks the iterative sense of "age after age".

in every era

Similar in meaning, highlights the presence of something across multiple historical periods.

from generation to generation

This alternative focuses specifically on the passing down of something across family lines or societal groups.

period after period

Similar to "age after age" but less common, implies a succession of distinct periods.

era after era

Like "period after period", emphasizes a sequence of distinct eras or epochs.

century after century

This alternative is more specific, referencing a time span of one hundred years at a time.

time after time

This alternative emphasizes repetition but may not necessarily imply vast stretches of history.

over and over again

This alternative also emphasizes repetition and does not necessarily imply a historical context.

for ages

This is a more informal way of expressing a long duration. The temporal magnitude is very different.

FAQs

How can I use "age after age" in a sentence?

Use "age after age" to emphasize the persistence or recurrence of something across long stretches of time, such as "The tale has been retold "age after age", evolving with each telling".

What phrases are similar to "age after age"?

Alternatives include "throughout the ages", "from generation to generation", or "time after time", each carrying slightly different nuances of time and repetition.

Is "age after age" a formal or informal expression?

"Age after age" sits in a neutral to slightly formal register, suitable for both writing and speech when discussing historical or enduring themes.

What's the difference between "age after age" and "era after era"?

While both suggest a succession of time periods, "age after age" implies a more continuous and possibly less defined period, whereas "era after era" suggests distinct, recognized historical epochs.