at very old age

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "at very old age" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to someone who is in the later stages of life or advanced in years. Example: "She achieved her lifelong dream of traveling the world at very old age, proving that it's never too late to pursue your passions."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

Such a difference between female rats and mice may be explained by the fact that, at very old age, muscles from females deteriorate more than muscles of old males [36].

Plosone

These results suggest that at very old age the MDRD formula might be the best estimate for eGFR, since the MDRD formula is most discriminative in predicting mortality.

BMC Geriatrics

Cancer, as a functional wound healing tissue, increases due to the increased wound incidence along with age, but decreases due to the exhausted wound healing ability at very old age (Fig.  3).

Cancer and Metastasis Reviews

Many people want to become young again, and when for some flies a mortality plateau was seen at very old age, claims were made that also for humans the mortality has a maximum somewhat below 100 years.

Bioinformatics and Biology Insights

Also, it is probable that the morbidity and mortality of persons carrying a high number of unfavorable genetic traits will differ more from morbidity and mortality of persons at younger age (under age 65) than at very old age, when morbidity and mortality are high among all persons.

Environmental Health: A Global Access Science Source

When cancer is considered as a functional repair tissue for wound, the mystery of cancer incidence turnaround at very old age can be explained: wound incidence increases along with age due to the accumulation of injuries, inflammations, infections, toxins, and cell aging [ 48].

Cancer and Metastasis Reviews

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

This association is age and gender-specific and remains even at very old ages.

Princeton University

People who do not annuitize much of their retirement wealth might spend too quickly the lump-sum payment reducing income at very old ages.

SERIEs

Some evidence indicates that the mortality hazard may actually begin decreasing at very old ages [34].

Plosone

The HMD classifies these countries into several categories by the quality of age-reporting data at very old ages.

BMC Geriatrics

Most participants perceived their working life as most important to their life history and retired at very old ages.

BMC Geriatrics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing statistical data related to aging, be specific about the age range you're referring to. For example, instead of just using "at very old age", consider specifying "at ages 85 and older" for clarity.

Common error

Avoid making broad generalizations about people "at very old age". Recognize that individual experiences and health conditions vary greatly among the elderly population.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "at very old age" functions primarily as an adverbial phrase, modifying verbs or clauses to indicate when an action or state occurs. It specifies the temporal context, denoting the final stages of life. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is correct and usable in English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

40%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "at very old age" is a grammatically correct adverbial phrase used to specify the timing of events in relation to the final stages of life. While considered uncommon in overall frequency, it is versatile enough for neutral contexts, with common use in scientific, news media, and academic writing. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. When using the phrase, consider being specific about the exact age range and avoiding broad generalizations about people in this life stage. Alternatives like "in advanced years" or "late in life" can provide subtle variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

At an advanced age

More formal and emphasizes the level of advancement in age.

In advanced years

More formal and emphasizes the progression of time.

Late in life

Focuses on the final period of existence.

In one's twilight years

Evokes a sense of nearing the end of life.

In extreme old age

Highlights the extremity of the age.

When one is elderly

Specifies that the person is considered elderly.

In the golden years

Highlights the positive aspects of growing older.

In their declining years

Emphasizes the diminishing aspects of life.

As a centenarian

Specifically refers to individuals aged 100 or more.

During the final stage of life

Emphasizes the conclusive phase.

FAQs

How can I use "at very old age" in a sentence?

You can use "at very old age" to describe when something occurs during the later years of someone's life. For example, "She began painting "at very old age" and became a renowned artist".

What phrases are similar to "at very old age"?

Similar phrases include "in advanced years", "late in life", or "in one's twilight years", all referring to the later stages of life.

Is it correct to say "in very old age" instead of "at very old age"?

While "in very old age" is understandable, ""at very old age"" is the more common and grammatically preferred prepositional phrase to use.

What are some things to consider when writing about people "at very old age"?

Remember to use respectful and inclusive language, avoiding stereotypes. Focus on individual experiences rather than making generalizations about people "at very old age".