from birth until death

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "from birth until death" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a time span that encompasses a person's entire life. Example: "The study examined the effects of nutrition from birth until death, highlighting the importance of a balanced diet throughout life."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

What is the role — and what are the rights — of the fan who follows a soccer club religiously from birth until death?

The New York Times - Sports

In this session we will take up one of the basic forms of biography: the idea that it is a book that tells the story of someone's life from birth until death.

The Guardian

The Food and Drug Administration (F.D.A ., knowing that manufacturers grow animals under conditions virtually guaranteed to breed disease, allows them to attempt to ward off disease by feeding them antibiotics from birth until death.

The New York Times

They faced institutional discrimination 24/7 from birth until death.

Huffington Post

D'Souza says of slavery, "No free workers enjoyed a comparable social security system from birth until death".

Huffington Post

Time is the inner sense that animates existence, not just our thoughts and feelings, but the spatial representations we experience from birth until death.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

Children were followed from birth until a cancer diagnosis, death, emigration, 14 years of age or end of follow-up (31 December 2006 in Sweden and 31 December 2007 in Denmark), whichever came first.

BMJ Open

But one aspect of our lives, from birth until, it seemed to me, death, remained as constant as the sunrise.

The New Yorker

Cohort members were followed from birth until first diagnosis of diabetes, death, emigration, or December 31st 2004, whichever came first.

Plosone

We studied the association between macrolide use and risk of IHPS by (incidence) rate ratios in a log linear Poisson regression model comparing exposed and unexposed infants followed from birth until 120 days after birth, death, emigration, disappearance, IHPS, or 31 December 2011, whichever occurred first.

British Medical Journal

Subjects were considered to be at risk of cancer from birth until either the development of cancer; death from another cause; the date of patient interview or until the age of 75 years.

British Journal of Cancer

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing long-term studies or data collection, use "from birth until death" to clearly define the study's timeframe. For example, "The study tracked participants' health markers from birth until death to assess lifetime exposure effects."

Common error

While "from birth until death" is generally clear, avoid using it in contexts where a more nuanced expression of lifespan stages would be appropriate. For instance, saying "His habits were consistent from birth until death" might be better phrased as "His habits were consistent throughout his adult life" if the focus is specifically on adulthood.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "from birth until death" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb or clause. It indicates the duration or timespan of an action, state, or condition. Ludwig confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "from birth until death" is a grammatically sound and usable expression to describe a period encompassing one's entire life. As Ludwig confirms, it is suitable for various contexts. While not exceedingly common, it finds frequent use in news, media and scientific domains. For more formal or nuanced scenarios, alternatives such as "from cradle to grave" or "throughout one's life" can be considered. When deploying, prevent from literal interpretations, and focus on conveying a long term activity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

from cradle to grave

This is a common idiom emphasizing life's entire duration, often implying societal or systemic influences.

throughout one's life

This is a more neutral and straightforward way to express the same concept.

for the duration of their life

A slightly more formal alternative focusing on the complete lifespan.

from the moment of birth to the time of death

This option is more descriptive and less idiomatic.

one's entire existence

This phrase emphasizes the state of being alive throughout the life.

a lifetime

This single word encapsulates the entire period of someone's life.

life-long

Functions as an adjective to describe something that lasts a lifetime.

from beginning to end of life

This alternative emphasizes the start and finish of the individual's life.

for the rest of their natural life

This variation highlights the natural course of life until its end.

as long as they live

Emphasizes the period while someone is alive.

FAQs

What does the phrase "from birth until death" mean?

The phrase "from birth until death" refers to the entire duration of a person's life, encompassing everything from the moment they are born to the moment they die. It's often used to describe lifelong processes, periods of time, or effects.

Are there any similar idioms to "from birth until death"?

Yes, several idioms convey a similar meaning. Common alternatives include "from cradle to grave", "throughout one's life", or "for the duration of their life".

In what contexts is it appropriate to use "from birth until death"?

It is appropriate in contexts when describing something that persists or is relevant throughout a person's whole life, like a long-term study, a deeply ingrained habit, or a societal impact. Be mindful that other alternatives may better suit specific stages of life.

Is "from birth until death" formal or informal?

The phrase "from birth until death" is generally considered neutral in tone. It can be used in both formal and informal contexts, though more formal alternatives like "for the duration of their life" may be preferred in very formal writing.