five feet tall

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "five feet tall" is correct and can be used in written English.
You could use it to describe someone's height, for example: "The woman standing in line was five feet tall."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

It's five feet tall.

The New Yorker

They each stood maybe five feet tall.

The New York Times - Magazine

HT: She was about five feet tall.

The New York Times

Ms. Chau is barely five feet tall.

The New York Times

She stands about five feet tall.

The New Yorker

Each stands less than five feet tall.

The New York Times

He was barely five feet tall.

The New York Times

"And he was five feet tall".

The New York Times

Adults stood about five feet tall.

The New Yorker

In reality, she is just shy of five feet tall.

The New York Times

Wuhayshi is a tiny man, less than five feet tall.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing height, be specific by adding details to provide context such as, "five feet tall, with long brown hair". This makes the description more vivid and informative for the reader.

Common error

Ensure you use the correct pluralization. Use "foot" when it's part of a compound adjective (e.g., a five-foot statue) but use "feet" when describing a measurement (e.g., The statue is "five feet tall").

Linguistic Context

The phrase "five feet tall" primarily functions as a descriptive adjective phrase, modifying a noun to specify its height. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a standard and acceptable way to describe vertical dimension.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

79%

Science

10%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Encyclopedias

2%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "five feet tall" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe height, as validated by Ludwig. It is most frequently found in news and media but is suitable for various contexts ranging from formal to informal. When using the phrase, remember to use "feet" for measurements and "foot" in compound adjectives. Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability and broad applicability, making it a reliable choice for expressing height.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

approximately five feet in height

Uses "in height" to specify the dimension being described, adding a touch of formality.

around five feet high

Replaces "tall" with "high", which is nearly synonymous but might be preferred in some contexts.

a height of five feet

Transforms the phrase into a noun phrase, suitable for different grammatical structures.

five feet in stature

Substitutes "tall" with "in stature", which is often used to describe a person's height.

measuring five feet

Focuses on the act of measuring, suitable when emphasizing the measurement process.

standing at five feet

Implies the height when standing, which might be more specific for people.

almost five feet in length

Changes "tall" to "length", appropriate when describing horizontal dimensions.

just about five feet

Adds "just about" to indicate an approximate measurement.

a five-foot height

Combines "five-foot" into a single adjective modifying "height".

in the vicinity of five feet

Indicates an approximate measurement using a more verbose and formal phrasing.

FAQs

How do I use "five feet tall" in a sentence?

The phrase "five feet tall" is used to describe the height of a person or object. For example, "The bookshelf is "five feet tall"" or "She is "five feet tall".

What's a more formal way to say "five feet tall"?

A more formal way to say "five feet tall" could be "a height of five feet", which is suitable for technical or official contexts.

What can I say instead of "five feet tall" when estimating?

When estimating, you might say "approximately five feet tall" or "around five feet high" to indicate an approximate measurement.

Is it correct to say "five foot tall" instead of "five feet tall"?

While "five foot tall" is sometimes used, it's more grammatically correct to use "five feet tall" when describing a measurement. The singular form "foot" is typically used in compound adjectives, such as in a five-foot ladder.