ages ago

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "ages ago" is correct and usable in written English.
This phrase is used to describe something that happened at an unspecified point in the distant past. For example, "I used to live in that town ages ago."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

It's ages ago now.

The Guardian - Books

"That was ages ago," Veronica said.

The New Yorker

And that's ages ago now.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

It seems like ages ago now.

The Guardian - Sport

"I deleted the app ages ago".

The Guardian - Tech

"He stopped coming to A.A. ages ago".

The New Yorker

"We met ages ago," he said.

The New York Times

Why didn't she leave him ages ago?

The Guardian

I should have had it done ages ago.

Independent

Ages ago, I started calling her Babe, and it stuck.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

OK, OK, so everyone got over The Wire ages ago.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "ages ago" to indicate that an event occurred in the distant past, without specifying an exact time. This is particularly effective when the precise timing is unknown or unimportant.

Common error

While appropriate in casual conversation or informal writing, "ages ago" is generally too vague for formal reports or academic papers that require specific dates or timeframes.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ages ago" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb or clause. It indicates when an action occurred, specifying that it took place in the distant past. This is confirmed by Ludwig, which states that the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

69%

Science

18%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "ages ago" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression to describe events that occurred in the distant past. According to Ludwig, it is suitable for use in written English and typically conveys that something happened a considerable time back. While versatile, it's best reserved for contexts that do not demand strict precision, such as informal conversations or news articles. More formal settings may benefit from alternatives like "many years ago" or "in the distant past". As indicated by Ludwig's analysis of numerous examples, the phrase is common in News & Media.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a long time ago

More general and commonly used alternative.

many years ago

Emphasizes the duration of time that has passed.

in the distant past

More formal and emphasizes the remoteness of the time.

in bygone days

Suggests a past era or a time that is significantly different from the present.

long since

Implies that something is no longer relevant or remembered.

in times past

A more literary or archaic alternative.

ancient history

Suggests that the event is very old and perhaps no longer important.

earlier in life

Refers to past events in the speaker's own life.

in the olden days

Evokes a sense of nostalgia or a romanticized view of the past.

way back when

An informal expression for the past.

FAQs

How can I use "ages ago" in a sentence?

You can use "ages ago" to refer to something that happened a long time in the past. For example, "I visited that museum "ages ago"" or "That trend was popular "ages ago"".

What's a more formal way to say "ages ago"?

For a more formal tone, you could use phrases like "many years ago" or "in the distant past".

Is "ages ago" appropriate for academic writing?

While grammatically correct, "ages ago" is generally considered too informal for academic writing. Opt for more precise language, such as specifying the number of years or decades.

What is the difference between "a long time ago" and ""ages ago""?

Both phrases indicate something occurred in the past. "Ages ago" can sometimes imply a greater length of time or a more significant sense of distance than "a long time ago", but the difference is often subtle.