in their generation

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "in their generation" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a specific time period or group of people who lived during a particular era. Example: "The innovations introduced in their generation have significantly shaped modern technology."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The Venners would not be changed in their generation".

The New Yorker

"In their generation, everyone was called on to sacrifice.

The New York Times

Like so many in their generation, my parents are remaking the rules once again.

The New York Times

But unlike many others in their generation, they saw the future in decidedly low-tech terms.

The New York Times

In their generation people worry much less about class, likewise race, gender or sexual proclivity.

Independent

For me they are a remarkable demonstration that we can still place our hope in their generation.

The Guardian - Opinion

After their studies ended, they were among so many others in their generation who were overqualified and unemployed.

The New Yorker

They routinely told me it gave them a sense of purpose and they liked helping other people in their generation.

The Guardian

Ripken and Gwynn both played their entire careers for the same team, a rarity in their generation.

The New York Times - Sports

The Clintons have spent their lives fighting as much as any leaders in their generation for greater equality across racial and gender lines.

The New York Times

Criticism is coming largely from faculty members and not students, who recognize that shock humor is more commonplace in their generation, he said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "in their generation", ensure it clearly defines a specific group of people or a time period to avoid ambiguity. For example, "The social norms in their generation differed greatly from today."

Common error

Avoid making broad, unsubstantiated claims about an entire generation based on limited observations. Instead, focus on specific trends or characteristics that are well-documented and supported by evidence. For example, avoid saying "Everyone in their generation was lazy" and instead say "Many individuals in their generation faced economic challenges that affected their career paths."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in their generation" functions as a prepositional phrase, modifying a noun by providing context related to a specific time period or cohort. Ludwig provides numerous examples demonstrating its use in various sentence structures.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

56%

Science

29%

Academia

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "in their generation" is a common and grammatically sound prepositional phrase used to contextualize events, characteristics, or trends within a specific time period or cohort. As Ludwig AI confirms, its primary function is to provide temporal and social context, making it suitable for a range of registers from neutral news reports to academic discussions. The phrase sees frequent use across credible sources such as The New York Times and The Guardian, underscoring its wide acceptance and utility in contemporary English. It's important to use the phrase with specificity and avoid overgeneralizing traits to an entire generation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

during their time

Replaces "generation" with "time", focusing on the period when they lived.

in their era

Substitutes "generation" with "era", emphasizing a broader historical period.

in their day

Uses "day" instead of "generation", referring to a specific period in the past.

within their lifetime

Focuses on events occurring during the span of their lives.

among their contemporaries

Highlights the people who lived at the same time as them.

during their age

Similar to "in their era", but uses "age" to denote the period.

in the time of their peers

Emphasizes the period when people of similar age lived.

in their epoch

A more formal substitution of "generation" with "epoch."

in the course of their lives

Focuses on the entire duration of their existence.

in the years they lived

Directly refers to the years of their lives.

FAQs

How can I use "in their generation" in a sentence?

The phrase "in their generation" typically modifies a noun phrase to specify a characteristic, experience, or trend common to a group of people born around the same time. For example, "The economic hardships "in their generation" shaped their financial decisions."

What's a more formal way to say "in their generation"?

For a more formal tone, consider using "during their era" or "within their lifetime". These alternatives provide a similar meaning while sounding more sophisticated. For example, "The scientific advancements "during their era" revolutionized medicine."

What can I say instead of "in their generation" to emphasize shared experiences?

To emphasize shared experiences, you might use "among their contemporaries" or "in their day". These phrases highlight the collective context of a group of people. For example, "The sense of community "among their contemporaries" was very strong."

Is it correct to say "of their generation" instead of "in their generation"?

While "of their generation" is grammatically correct, it typically refers to something belonging to or characteristic of that generation, rather than experiences occurring during that time. "In their generation" focuses more on the context and period. For example, "They are leaders "of their generation"" refers to their leadership qualities being representative of that time period.