quite older

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "quite older" is not correct in standard written English.
It is typically used incorrectly as "older" should be preceded by "much" or "a lot" instead of "quite." Example: "He is much older than his brother."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Therefore, although the maximum age was reported to be 85 years in this sample, the true maximum age was likely quite older and the reported mean ages for the total eligible sample and for the mean ages by disease status are likely underestimates of the true means.

Diabetes Care

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

"It's quite old".

The New York Times - Health

He's quite old.

The Guardian - Film

"He's quite old," Grace said.

The New Yorker

Quite old fashioned," I say.

The Guardian - Music

"I'm getting quite old".

The Guardian

It's quite old-fashioned.

The Guardian

It was all quite old school.

The Guardian

"Their audience is quite old," he said.

The New York Times

"Where did they come from?" Some are quite old.

The New York Times

Some of the ideas behind morphogenesis are quite old.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "quite older" in formal writing. Opt for alternatives like "much older" or "significantly older" for clearer and more grammatically accepted phrasing.

Common error

Don't use "quite" directly before comparative adjectives like "older". While "quite" can modify adjectives, it's grammatically incorrect with comparatives. Use "much", "significantly", or "a lot" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "quite older" functions as a modifier, attempting to intensify the adjective "older". However, according to Ludwig AI, this construction is grammatically incorrect. A more suitable usage would be to replace "quite" with adverbs like "much" or "significantly".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "quite older" is grammatically questionable and not standard English. While the intent is to emphasize an age difference, it is better to use phrases like "much older" or "significantly older" instead. These alternatives are grammatically correct and widely accepted. As noted by Ludwig AI, the phrase "quite older" is considered incorrect, and its use should be avoided in formal contexts. The sources where it appears are of generally high quality, but the phrase's infrequent and non-standard nature suggests avoiding it. When describing relative ages, prioritize clarity and grammatical accuracy by choosing better established alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

much older

A more common and grammatically sound way to express a greater age difference.

a lot older

An informal but grammatically correct way to indicate a substantial age difference.

significantly older

Emphasizes a notable difference in age, replacing "quite" with a stronger adverb.

considerably older

Similar to "significantly older", but conveys a sense of respect or formality.

substantially older

Implies a considerable and evident difference in age.

noticeably older

Indicates that the age difference is easily observed.

appreciably older

Highlights that the age difference is easily perceived.

markedly older

Suggests a clear and distinct difference in age.

distinctly older

Indicates a readily apparent age difference.

somewhat older

Implies a minor or slight difference in age, retaining a degree of the original's nuance.

FAQs

Is "quite older" grammatically correct?

No, "quite older" is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. It's better to use phrases like "much older" or "significantly older".

What are some alternatives to "quite older"?

Alternatives include "much older", "significantly older", "a lot older", and "considerably older". The best choice depends on the specific context and desired level of formality.

In what contexts might I want to avoid using "quite older"?

Avoid using "quite older" in formal writing, academic papers, or professional communications. It's generally best to use more standard and accepted phrases.

How does the meaning of "quite older" differ from "much older"?

While the intent might be similar, "much older" is grammatically correct and widely understood, while "quite older" is not. "Much" directly modifies the comparative adjective "older", while "quite" is generally not used in this way.