an average age of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an average age of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the typical age of a group of people or subjects in a statistical context. Example: "The study revealed an average age of 35 among the participants."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

We were kids, with an average age of 19.

The Guardian - Music

(The PACE pool had an average age of forty).

The New Yorker

Black girls began developing breasts at an average age of 8.87 and pubic hair at an average age of 8.78.

The New York Times

That fleet, after all, has an average age of more than a decade.

Stanford University

The study included nearly 4,500 adults with an average age of 76 years.

Harvard University

Slightly more than half reported memory changes, at an average age of 82.

Harvard University

Patients had an average age of 48 years and 77 % were female.

Stanford University

The study included 12,420 people with an average age of 75.

Harvard University

All subjects were within the ages of 20-22, with an average age of 21.

Cornell University

BBC4 has the most senior audience of all, with an average age of 61.

The Guardian

Only BBC3, with an average age of 33, has seen its audience grow younger.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When reporting demographic data, clearly define the population to which the "average age" refers. This ensures clarity and avoids misinterpretation.

Common error

Avoid stating "the average age is X" without specifying whose age you're referring to. Always clarify the group or sample being discussed to provide context and prevent ambiguity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an average age of" functions as a determiner phrase introducing statistical information about a group. It specifies the typical or central age within a sample or population. Ludwig confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

39%

Academia

39%

Science

22%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "an average age of" is a common and grammatically sound way to express the typical age within a group, as confirmed by Ludwig. It is most frequently used in news, academic, and scientific contexts to provide demographic information. While interchangeable with alternatives like "mean age" or "typical age", clarity in specifying the reference population is crucial. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase enjoys widespread use across varied sources, solidifying its place as standard English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a mean age of

Replaces "average" with "mean", both referring to the statistical average.

a typical age of

Replaces "average" with "typical", focusing on the most common age.

a median age of

Uses "median" instead of "average", indicating the middle value rather than the arithmetic mean.

a common age of

Replaces "average" with "common", focusing on the age frequently observed.

an overall age of

Substitute "average" with "overall" meaning the general age.

an approximate age of

Substitutes "average" with "approximate", suggesting an estimated age range.

a usual age of

Uses "usual" to indicate the age that most commonly occurs.

an estimated age of

Uses "estimated" to convey that the age is not precise but rather an educated guess.

a central age of

Employs "central" instead of "average", highlighting the age around which others cluster.

a composite age of

Replaces "average" with "composite", which refers to the age obtained from putting the data together.

FAQs

How do I correctly use "an average age of" in a sentence?

Use "an average age of" to describe the typical age within a group. For example, "The participants had an average age of 35 years".

What are some alternatives to saying "an average age of"?

You can use phrases like "a mean age of", "a median age of", or "a typical age of" depending on the specific statistical measure you want to emphasize.

Is it better to say "average age" or "mean age"?

Both "average age" and "mean age" are generally acceptable, but "mean age" is more precise in statistical contexts. In most general writing, "average age" is perfectly suitable.

When should I use "median age" instead of "an average age of"?

Use "median age" when you want to represent the middle value in a set of ages, which is less sensitive to extreme values than the average. For example, if a few very old individuals skew the average, the "median age" might be more representative.