of unknown age

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "of unknown age" is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
You can use it to describe a person, object, or location when the exact age is uncertain or not known. For example: "The ancient ruin was of unknown age, but archaeologists estimated it to be over 3,000 years old."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The others were of unknown age.

The New York Times

"It is therefore considered to be a sub-fossil but of unknown age," he says.

The Guardian

His name is Albie, and he is a goat of unknown age and breed.

The New York Times

MS. WINN, by way of breed, is a Brainy, Bicycling West Sider, of unknown age.

The New York Times

(iii) 'Forager': bees of unknown age that returned to the hive with conspicuous pollen loads in their corbiculae.

Nature

The body, which was intact inside the bag, is that of a white adult of unknown age, according to the police.

The New York Times

To meet this objective, rather than sample wild and cultured oysters of unknown age and origin, an oyster "grow-out" experiment was initiated.

Marine Pollution Bulletin

Gibora is Hebrew for "heroine," which she was probably called because "obese, lactose-intolerant dog of unknown age" didn't easily translate.

The New York Times

The 31 percent figure has long been criticized because new Revolution helmets had been compared with used helmets of unknown age and condition.

The New York Times - Sports

Thus, if well-dated, unaltered fossil shells containing strontium from ancient seawater are analyzed, changes in this ratio with time can be observed and applied in reverse to estimate the time when fossils of unknown age were deposited.

Britannica

Five of the tortoises, all fe males of unknown age and weighing from 80 to 200 pounds each, will be flown from Kennedy International Airport today — probably the first tortoises ever to fly in a jet airliner.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing archaeological findings or historical artifacts, use "of unknown age" to acknowledge the uncertainty surrounding their origins.

Common error

Avoid relying solely on the phrase "of unknown age" when more specific descriptors can be inferred through context. If, for example, the entity is likely from the 18th century, state: "probably from the 18th century" instead of only "of unknown age."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "of unknown age" functions as a post-modifying prepositional phrase, providing descriptive information about a noun. It indicates that the age of the noun it modifies is not known or has not been determined. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

42%

News & Media

38%

Wiki

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "of unknown age" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to denote that the age of a subject is uncertain or undetermined. As Ludwig AI confirms, it finds application across diverse fields such as science, news reporting, and general knowledge documentation. The phrase serves the crucial purpose of acknowledging a gap in information, ensuring that descriptions remain accurate without assuming knowledge that isn't available. While authoritative sources like The New York Times and ScienceDirect demonstrate its widespread acceptance, it's essential to employ more descriptive language when context allows, and to be mindful of its neutral-to-formal tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

age not known

Directly states the lack of knowledge about the age.

exact age unknown

Specifies that the precise age is not available.

age undetermined

Uses a single word to express that the age has not been established.

unspecified age

Indicates that the age was not detailed or mentioned.

age is uncertain

Highlights the ambiguity and lack of clarity surrounding the age.

age cannot be determined

Indicates impossibility to calculate the age.

age unascertained

Emphasizes the difficulty or impossibility of determining the age.

lacking age data

Highlights the absence of specific data related to age.

without age identification

Focuses on the absence of any means to determine the age.

date of origin unknown

Shifts the focus to the uncertainty of the point of commencement in time, which might relate to age.

FAQs

How can I use "of unknown age" in a sentence?

You can use "of unknown age" to describe anything whose age is uncertain, such as "The artifact was "of unknown age", making it difficult to trace its origins."

What are some alternatives to saying "of unknown age"?

Some alternatives include "age not known", "age undetermined", or "unspecified age", depending on the specific context.

Is it appropriate to use "of unknown age" in formal writing?

Yes, "of unknown age" is suitable for formal writing. It's a clear and professional way to indicate that the age of something is not known or cannot be determined.

What's the difference between "of unknown age" and "of uncertain age"?

While both phrases convey a lack of precise knowledge about age, ""of unknown age"" suggests that the age is simply not known, whereas "of uncertain age" implies that there may be conflicting or unreliable information about the age.