at her old

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "at her old" is not correct and lacks clarity in written English.
It may be intended to refer to someone's previous age or state, but it needs additional context to be meaningful. Example: "At her old age, she still enjoys hiking every weekend."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

(The next day he lunched at her old restaurant).

The New York Times

She seems filled with resentment and class rage at her old friend Natalie's yuppie existence.

The New York Times - Books

At her old public school, she's now resented as a snob.

The New Yorker

Uprooted to a new neighborhood, she stayed enrolled at her old school for the rest of the semester before transferring.

The New York Times

Kate Moss's influence as a style icon was clearly visible at her old school, Riddlesdown High.

The Guardian

A performance with 22 of her students last weekend, at her old high school in Chappaqua.

The New York Times

"My parents were really worried," she revealed in a speech at her old university last month.

The Guardian - Film

Jane Molloy, glass of fizzing champagne in repetitively-stressed hand, stood and looked at her old friends.

The Guardian - Books

So Schulberg gave her a choice: stay at her old salary (and options usually carried a raise), or quit.

The Guardian - Film

Since the frogs at her old site had pretty much disappeared, she decided that she needed to find a new location to do research.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Ms. Shalaby was supposed to have had breakfast with some friends back at her old job on Tuesday.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Replace the phrase "at her old" with more grammatically correct alternatives such as "at her former" or "in her previous" to ensure clarity and precision in writing.

Common error

Avoid using "at her old" as a catch-all phrase for past states or possessions; instead, specify the time frame or condition using phrases like "during her earlier years" or "in her youth" for better context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at her old" functions as a prepositional phrase that attempts to modify a noun, but its grammatical structure is flawed, leading to ambiguity. Ludwig AI suggests that the phrase is incorrect and lacks clarity.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Wiki

31%

Science

31%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "at her old" appears frequently in various sources, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect and lacking clarity. It is intended to reference a past state or possession but is better replaced with more precise and grammatically sound alternatives such as "at her former" or "in her previous". These alternatives enhance clarity and ensure grammatical correctness, making communication more effective. Therefore, when writing, opt for these substitutes to avoid ambiguity and maintain a professional tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

at her former

Replaces "old" with "former" to indicate a previous state or possession, providing a grammatically correct alternative.

in her previous

Uses "previous" instead of "old" to refer to a prior time or condition, enhancing clarity.

during her earlier

Specifies a time frame with "earlier", making the reference to a past period more explicit.

when she was

Introduces a clause that describes a past state, offering a complete and grammatically sound alternative.

in her youth

Focuses on a specific period (youth) to replace the vague reference to "old".

at her past

Uses "past" as a substitute for "old" to indicate a prior state or experience.

in her prime

Implies a state of being at the best point in life, contrasting with the notion of "old".

at the time of her

Offers a more elaborate way to specify a particular moment in the past.

during her days of

Refers to a specific period or era, making the time reference more specific.

in earlier stages of her

Elaborates on the timeline by specifying the "stages" of her life, providing detail.

FAQs

How can I correctly refer to someone's past using "old"?

Instead of saying "at her old", use clearer phrases like "in her old age" or "at her former school" to maintain grammatical correctness.

What are some alternatives to the phrase "at her old"?

You can use alternatives like "at her former", "in her previous", or "during her earlier" depending on the context.

Is "at her old" grammatically correct?

No, "at her old" is not grammatically correct. It is better to use phrases like "at her former" or "in her previous" for clarity.

What is the difference between "at her old" and "in her youth"?

"At her old" is grammatically incorrect and vague, while "in her youth" refers to a specific period of time, making it a clearer and more accurate phrase.