girls

USAGE SUMMARY

'girls' is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use it to refer to individual female people, or a group of female people. For example, "The girls had a great time at the party last night".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"We do not know if the Chibok girls can be rescued.

The Guardian

Through her heroic struggle she has become a leading spokesperson for girls' rights to education".

The Guardian

"The parents were hoping he would come with some information for them about where the girls may be and what efforts are being done to recover them, but instead to be told he is not coming was not easy for them.

The Guardian

She won for what the Nobel committee called her "heroic struggle" for girls' right to an education.

The Guardian

This might not be a problem if it were a drug for TB, malaria or AIDS – but critics of the HPV donation asked why cervical cancer received such a comprehensive effort in Rwanda – reaching 95% for 11-year-old girls when disease incidence lags well behind other vaccine-preventable diseases in the developing world (read the Rwandan health minister's persuasive rebuttal).

The Guardian

There's no way to say this that will make it sound less weird: that was the week that teenage girls started to say they fancied Ed Miliband.

The Guardian

"You begin to question what could be more important to the president than the lives of these students," said Allen Manasseh, whose 18-year-old sister Maryamu Wavi was abducted from the Chibok government girls secondary school.

The Guardian

Some girls started their periods and thought they were dying of cancer.

The Guardian - Opinion

This unmentionability can have other serious consequences: if girls can't afford sanitary napkins or cloths, they use straw, or sand, or newspaper, often resulting in infections.

The Guardian - Opinion

Luna's father, Gustavo Luna, told Grupo Imagen that the mistaken identity appeared to hinge on the fact that both girls share the name Alondra, and that he had met Díaz, who was his sister's brother-in-law, several times when in Houston over a decade ago.

The Guardian

The girls reportedly filmed the video to promote dancehall classes at a local school, Art Dance, and a photograph from the shoot on Radetskaya's social network page listed the times that the class meets.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about "girls", be mindful of the context and ensure your language is respectful and avoids perpetuating stereotypes.

Common error

Be cautious about making broad generalizations about "girls" as a group. Recognize individual differences and avoid assumptions based on gender.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "girls" is as a plural noun. It acts as the subject or object of a sentence, referring to multiple female individuals. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in numerous contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "girls" is a common and grammatically sound way to refer to female children or young women. As Ludwig AI indicates, the word is widely used across various contexts, particularly in News & Media. However, it's crucial to consider the context and avoid generalizations or using the term to refer to adult women, which can be seen as inappropriate. Alternatives such as "young women" or "female children" may be more fitting depending on the situation. When writing, be mindful of the connotations and aim for respectful and accurate language.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

schoolgirls

Specifies attendance at school, relevant in educational discussions.

young women

Emphasizes adulthood and maturity, suitable when age is relevant.

female children

Highlights youth and dependence, fitting in contexts about childhood or development.

young ladies

Implies politeness or formality, appropriate in respectful or refined settings.

female youths

Suitable in formal contexts when emphasizing age range of adolescence.

female adolescents

Clinical term for young women in their teenage years. Commonly used in medical/scientific contexts.

daughters

Indicates familial relationship, useful when family ties are central.

lassies

More common in scottish english. A term of endearment with a traditional feel. Less formal and somewhat regional.

maidens

Archaic term referencing unmarried young women. Has very limited modern usage.

sheilas

Australian slang that refers to young woman, but is considered offensive in some cultures.

FAQs

How can I use "girls" in a sentence?

The term "girls" can be used to refer to a group of female children or young women. For example, "The girls played soccer in the park".

What are some alternative words for "girls"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "young women", "female children", or "schoolgirls".

Is it appropriate to use "girls" to refer to adult women?

While "girls" typically refers to young females, using it to describe adult women can be seen as condescending or infantilizing. Consider using "women" instead.

What's the difference between "girls" and "women"?

"Girls" generally refers to female children and adolescents, while "women" refers to adult females. The distinction is primarily based on age and maturity.