birth year

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "birth year" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the specific year in which someone was born. Example: "My birth year is 1990, which makes me a millennial."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Grandfather's name backward plus birth year.

The New Yorker

What happened in my birth year?

The Guardian - Tech

(His birth year is pegged now as 1906).

The New Yorker

Reports of her birth year spanned from 1916 to 1930.

The Washington Post

The book, however, cites his birth year as 1990.

The New York Times - Sports

The wine was vintage 2000, her birth year.

The Washington Post

(Some sources list her birth year as 1931).

The New York Times - Arts

Davis shocked Robinson with his birth year: 1993.

The New York Times - Sports

The adjutant general's branch listed his birth year as 1951.

The New York Times

Genetic trends of studied traits were estimated by regressing mean of breeding values on birth year.

Small Ruminant Research

Cases were matched to three controls on birth year and race.

Alcohol

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about historical trends, use "birth year" to group individuals into cohorts for analysis. This helps control for age-related factors.

Common error

Avoid using "birth year" when you actually mean age. "Birth year" refers to the specific year someone was born, while age is the number of years they have lived. Be precise in your language.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "birth year" functions primarily as a noun phrase, often used as an attribute or parameter in data collection and analysis. Ludwig examples demonstrate its usage in various contexts, from identifying cohorts to controlling for age-related variables in studies. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

52%

News & Media

38%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Academia

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "birth year" is a grammatically sound and frequently used noun phrase primarily employed to specify the year of someone's birth. Ludwig examples illustrate its widespread use in both scientific research and general news reporting, serving to categorize individuals into cohorts and control for age-related factors. While "year of birth" serves as a more formal alternative, remember to avoid confusing "birth year" with age. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is considered correct and usable, reinforcing its validity in various contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Year of birth

A more formal way of saying "birth year".

Year someone was born

Specifies that it's a person's birth year.

The year they were born

Similar, but uses a more conversational tone with "they".

Natal year

A shorter, somewhat more technical term.

Year of one's nativity

A more archaic and formal way to refer to birth year.

Year of origin

Focuses on the year as a starting point.

When someone was born

A more descriptive way of indicating birth year.

Year of creation

Less common, implies a beginning or start.

Annus natalis

Latin term for "birth year", used in specific contexts.

Time of birth

A broader term referring to the general moment of birth, not specifically the year.

FAQs

How do I correctly use "birth year" in a sentence?

Use "birth year" to specify the year someone was born. For example, "The study controlled for participants' "birth year" to account for generational effects."

What is a more formal synonym for "birth year"?

A more formal alternative is "year of birth", which is suitable for academic or professional writing.

Is it appropriate to ask for someone's "birth year" in a professional setting?

Asking for someone's ""birth year"" might be considered intrusive or discriminatory, depending on the context and local laws. Consider whether the information is truly necessary.

What's the difference between "date of birth" and "birth year"?

"Date of birth" refers to the full date (day, month, and year), while "birth year" only specifies the year. Use "birth year" when you only need the year component.