how much older

USAGE SUMMARY

"how much older" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is used to ask how old is someone compared to another person. For example: "How much older is your brother than you?".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

41 human-written examples

How much older?

The New Yorker

But that research did not tell them exactly how much older the fossils might be.

The New York Times - Science

"It was disgraceful, really, how much older he was, but they remained friends, and she introduced me".

The New York Times

When she showed up for dinner, I immediately noticed how much older she looked without her costume head on.

The New Yorker

Some nights, he glanced up from his laptop and, seeing his face in a mirror, was struck by how much older he looked than he had when the case began.

The New Yorker

"The thing I can't figure out," Seiler said in a book called "Damn Good Dogs!" that he wrote with Kent Hannon a few years ago, "is how much older I look now than when I started.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

19 human-written examples

It also put a cap on how much old money they could swap for the new currency.

The New York Times

North Korea placed a cap on how much old money a citizen could exchange for the new currency, effectively confiscating private stores of wealth.

The New York Times

"It's something that we faced with The Iron Lady, because, well – you'll just see how much old lady there is in the trailer for this film". Not much?

The Guardian - Film

That it has gained traction in a country so committed to controlling drug use shows how much old orthodoxies have crumbled.

The New York Times

Shanghai is remaking itself to become a "City of the Future," but what's so alluring is how much old-world character remains.

The New York Times - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When comparing ages, ensure clarity by specifying the individuals or entities being compared. For instance, "How much older is the building now compared to when it was first built?"

Common error

Avoid ambiguity by clearly stating who or what is being compared. Saying only "How much older?" leaves the question incomplete and unclear.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "how much older" functions primarily as an interrogative phrase used to inquire about the difference in age between two subjects. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

15%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "how much older" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to inquire about age differences. Ludwig AI confirms its appropriate usage across various contexts. Predominantly found in news and media, it serves to elicit information and quantify the age gap between subjects. To ensure clarity, always specify the entities being compared and avoid ambiguity by clearly stating your points of reference. This phrase is versatile, but understanding its register and usage patterns can further refine your communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

by how many years older

Specifies the measure of age difference in years.

age difference between

Highlights the disparity in age between two entities.

extent of age gap

Emphasizes the degree or scope of the age difference.

relative age difference

Focuses on the age gap in a comparative context.

what is the age gap

Focuses on the difference in age as a gap.

magnitude of age difference

Focuses on the size or extent of the age gap.

how much more aged

Uses "aged" instead of "older" to denote the difference.

what's the age disparity

Emphasizes the inequality or significant difference in age.

what is the age variance

Highlights the variation in age between individuals.

seniority in age

Highlights the aspect of being more advanced in age.

FAQs

How can I use "how much older" in a sentence?

You can use "how much older" to ask about the age difference between two people or things. For example, "How much older is your sister than you?" or "How much older is this building than the one downtown?"

What's a more formal way to ask "how much older" someone is?

In a formal context, you might ask, "What is the age difference between /s/person+A and /s/person+B" or "To what extent does /s/person+A exceed /s/person+B in age?"

What can I say instead of "how much older" when describing an object's age?

Alternatives include "/s/what+is+the+age+of this object compared to" or "/s/by+how+many+years does this object predate another?"

Is it correct to say "how many years older" instead of "how much older"?

While "how much older" is common and grammatically correct, "/s/how+many+years older" emphasizes the specific number of years, making it a suitable alternative in many contexts.