aged twelve

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "aged twelve" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate someone's age in a descriptive context, often in formal or literary writing. Example: "The young artist, aged twelve, displayed remarkable talent in her paintings."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

36 human-written examples

The ages of the children were: one aged four, two aged seven, and one aged twelve.

Conflict and Health

Alice, aged twelve, who is no fool,.

The New Yorker

They were children, aged twelve, eleven, and eight.

The New Yorker

The drop-out rate has been particularly high among students aged twelve to fifteen.

The New Yorker

My first trip was... From South Africa to Scotland, aged twelve and-a-half.

The Guardian - Travel

Talla, aged twelve, is walking with her husband from a small Iranian village toward a new life in the city.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

24 human-written examples

My sister mentioned that her sons (aged twelve and nine) had recently been introduced to D. & D. at summer camp.

The New Yorker

Among them we see the pre-famous Kim and Kourtney Kardashian, aged twelve and thirteen, respectively, the former locking precocious eyes with the camera.

The New Yorker

I have nieces aged twelve and fourteen, and neither were keen on the idea of shared toilets, although the older one told me, "I might like it if my boyfriend went to the same school as me".

Independent

A boating accident that had killed five girls aged twelve and thirteen and left another feeling forever on the verge of drowning she could see, from the look of concern and pity in his eyes, that he had interpreted her melancholy air that way.

The New Yorker

Given an opportunity to elaborate on "Good Morning America" and the "Today" show, Paladino described gay-pride parades as "disgusting"; denounced his rival, Andrew Cuomo, for taking his children, aged twelve and fifteen, to the gay-pride parade in New York City; and declared his hostility to same-sex marriage.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider context and audience. While grammatically sound, "aged twelve" might sound unusual in very casual conversation. Opt for "twelve years old" in such settings.

Common error

Avoid using "aged twelve" in very informal conversations or settings. It may sound overly formal or pretentious. A simpler phrase like "twelve years old" is usually more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "aged twelve" functions primarily as an adjectival modifier, describing a noun (usually a person) by indicating their age. Ludwig AI confirms that it is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

25%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "aged twelve" is a grammatically correct adjectival modifier used to describe someone who is twelve years old. Ludwig AI provides several examples showing its use in various contexts, including news, science, and literature. While generally considered neutral to formal, it's best suited for descriptive writing rather than casual conversation. For such cases, consider alternatives like "twelve years old".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

at the age of twelve

Replaces the adjective "aged" with a prepositional phrase, providing a more formal tone.

twelve years old

Uses a more common and straightforward phrasing to indicate age.

a twelve-year-old

Functions as a noun phrase describing a person of that age.

around twelve years of age

Introduces slight uncertainty about the exact age.

approximately twelve

Provides an approximation of the age, suitable when the precise age is unknown.

in their early teens

Refers to an age range that includes twelve, focusing on the developmental stage.

a pre-teen

Describes someone who is approaching their teenage years.

twelve or so

Suggests an approximate age, implying it could be slightly more or less than twelve.

nearly twelve

Indicates that someone is close to being twelve years old.

almost a teenager

Highlights the transition from childhood to teenage years, with twelve being close to that milestone.

FAQs

How can I use "aged twelve" in a sentence?

You can use "aged twelve" to describe someone's age in a descriptive or narrative context. For example, "The student, "aged twelve", presented a compelling science project".

Is it more appropriate to say "aged twelve" or "twelve years old"?

While both are grammatically correct, "twelve years old" is more common and suitable for everyday conversation. "Aged twelve" is typically used in more formal or literary contexts.

What's a more formal way to say "aged twelve"?

A more formal alternative to "aged twelve" is "at the age of twelve". For example, "At the age of twelve, she began studying classical piano".

Can I use "aged twelve" to describe objects or concepts?

"Aged twelve" is typically used to describe the age of people. To describe the age of objects or concepts, use phrases like "twelve years old" or "dating back twelve years".