developmental years

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "developmental years" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to the early stages of a person's life, particularly during childhood and adolescence, when significant growth and development occur. Example: "During the developmental years, children learn crucial social and cognitive skills that shape their future."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Encyclopedias

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

43 human-written examples

In Europe, players often have the same coaching staff through their developmental years.

The New York Times - Sports

After all, they have spent the majority of their developmental years preparing for careers.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Those who backed the headset in its early developmental years will receive a free headset, it added.

The Telegraph

As such, understanding their perceptions, even in early developmental years, about health and obstacles to involvement in research is important.

Journal of the National Medical Association

A panel on Becoming Behavioral Economists at Berkeley will include a group of professors who spent developmental years on campus.

University of California, Berkeley

But no, he lived in Réunion for most of his young, developmental years in squash, only leaving for France when he was 18.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

17 human-written examples

In a developmental year, this has been a challenging first season in English football for Eriksen.

The Guardian - Sport

On a developmental front, Year 1 children did not demonstrate a dominance of any representation in either the individual regression models or group level residuals.

Behavioral and Brain Functions

Explanatory variables included frog length, frog developmental stage, year the frogs were found, and refuge in which the frogs were found.

Environmental Health Perspectives

Eleven human cadaver cervical spines from across the developmental spectrum (2 28 years) were dissected into segments (C1-C2, C3-C5, and C6-C7) for biomechanical testing.

Journal of Biomechanics

For many years developmental biologists have been using chimaeras as a research tool, whereby cells isolated from one animal are introduced into a different species to assess their differentiation properties.

Nature

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair this phrase with verbs like 'spend', 'influence', 'shape' or 'navigate' to clearly define the relationship between the time period and the individual's growth.

Common error

Avoid the common mistake of saying "early developmental years of a child's childhood". Since developmental years inherently refer to childhood and adolescence, 'of a child's childhood' is redundant and weakens your prose.

Linguistic Context

In the examples provided by Ludwig, the phrase "developmental years" typically functions as a compound noun acting as the object of a prepositional phrase (e.g., "during", "in", "throughout"). It identifies a specific chronological span relevant to growth.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

45%

News & Media

35%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "developmental years" is a highly versatile and correct term used to denote the critical stages of physical and mental growth. Analysis from Ludwig shows that it is favored by both scientific researchers and journalists because it conveys a sense of importance regarding the events occurring during that time. It is almost always used in the plural form, reflecting the fact that development is a multi-year process. Whether you are writing about child psychology, sports training, or socio-economic impacts on youth, this phrase provides a professional and accurate way to describe the foundational period of a person's life.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

formative years

Emphasizes the impact of experiences on the permanent shaping of character or personality.

formative period

Uses 'period' instead of 'years' to suggest a more structured or defined duration.

growing years

A more informal and literal way to describe the period of physical and mental maturation.

impressionable years

Focuses on the susceptibility of the individual to external influences during youth.

early childhood

Specific to the very first years of life, usually from birth to age eight.

maturation period

A more technical or biological term for the span required to reach full development.

adolescent years

Narrows the focus to the transitional period between childhood and adulthood.

youthful years

A broader, slightly less precise alternative that covers the state of being young.

tender years

A poetic or legalistic term often used to evoke sympathy or special care for the young.

plastic years

A metaphorical term highlighting the neurobiological or psychological flexibility of youth.

FAQs

How do I use "developmental years" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe a critical period of growth, such as: "The skills acquired during his "developmental years" proved essential for his career."

What can I say instead of "developmental years"?

Depending on your focus, you could use "formative years" for personality growth or "growing years" for a more general context.

Is "developmental years" formal?

Yes, it is a neutral to formal term. While it is common in journalism, it is also standard in "scientific research" and academic papers.

What is the difference between "developmental years" and "early childhood"?

"early childhood" typically ends around age eight, whereas "developmental years" can extend through adolescence and into the early twenties.