from a tender age

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "from a tender age" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone has been involved in or affected by something since they were very young. Example: "She has been passionate about music from a tender age, often performing at local events as a child."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

I'm impressed that her ambitions were so noble from a tender age.

The Guardian - Travel

From a tender age we learned to cope, to avoid, to control.

The Guardian - Opinion

The concept of near-superhuman endurance had been drilled into Nadal from a tender age, in part by his relentless coach and uncle, Toni Nadal.

The New York Times

As a linguist and educator, I know that in order to learn a language, ANY language, you have to get adequate input from that language – ideally, be IMMERSED in that language from a tender age.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Kim Il-sung's account says he prepared for his vocation from a tender age; he recalls vowing to defeat the forces of imperialism at the age of five, when he was playing on a swing in his mother's arms.

The Guardian

Singing in choruses myself from a tender age, I cut my teeth on Irving Fine and Norman Dello Joio, Vincent Persichetti and Randall Thompson, favorite choral composers not widely played in concert halls.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

But what a musical life he lived — and from such a tender age!

The New York Times - Books

Consider that Scott's Sally also runs away from home at a tender age, with no more plan than to follow the meandering (and made up) Tuskee River.

The New York Times - Books

It seems not only sad that a life like that of Private Thomas Collins should have been blasted from him at such a tender age, but also somehow almost ineffably strange that this young lad from England's far east should have died in the Naga Hills.

The Guardian - Travel

In any case, they treated me wonderfully and, again, I met a "hidden child" afterwards, an elder who volunteers as a docent at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and who has spent a lifetime learning about the circumstances that led to him having to be hidden from the Nazis at a tender age.

Huffington Post

Or, to put this idea more precisely: whatever sense of a secure home life, of belonging, that I once felt as a boy was whisked out from under my feet at a tender age.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "from a tender age" to emphasize the long-term impact or influence of something that began in early childhood. This phrase adds a sense of enduring significance.

Common error

While "from a tender age" is generally acceptable, avoid overusing it in highly formal or scientific writing. Opt for more neutral alternatives like "from an early age" or "since childhood" in such contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "from a tender age" primarily functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate when an action or state began. As Ludwig AI indicates, this phrase is usable in written English. Ludwig examples show this phrase is often used to describe the start of a person's skill or trait.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Academia

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

15%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "from a tender age" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression, predominantly found in News & Media and Academic contexts. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's used to emphasize that something started in early childhood, highlighting its enduring impact. While generally neutral in register, careful consideration should be given in highly formal or scientific contexts, where alternatives like "from an early age" might be more suitable. Remember to use this phrase when you want to underline the formative nature of an experience or skill that began in someone's youth.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

since childhood

Focuses specifically on the period of childhood as the starting point.

from an early age

A more general and widely applicable alternative, suitable for various contexts.

since infancy

Highlights the earliest stage of life, emphasizing the long duration.

from youth

Emphasizes the period of youth, suggesting a slightly later stage than infancy.

since a young age

Similar to "from an early age" but with slightly more emphasis on the youthfulness.

from one's early years

More formal and emphasizes the formative nature of the early years.

from their earliest days

Emphasizes the very beginning of someone's life or involvement.

from the time one was young

A more descriptive and less concise alternative.

since the dawn of time

More emphatic and metaphorical, suggesting something has been true since the very beginning.

since they were knee-high to a grasshopper

An idiomatic and informal expression indicating a very young age.

FAQs

How can I use "from a tender age" in a sentence?

You can use "from a tender age" to describe when a person started developing a skill, interest, or trait. For example, "She has been passionate about music "from a tender age", often performing at local events as a child."

What are some alternatives to "from a tender age"?

Alternatives include "from an early age", "since childhood", or "since infancy", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "from a young age" the same as "from a tender age"?

While similar, "from a young age" is slightly more general. "From a tender age" often suggests a more delicate or formative period in early childhood.

Is it correct to say "since a tender age" instead of "from a tender age"?

While "since a tender age" might be understood, ""from a tender age"" is the more idiomatic and commonly used expression.