second daughter

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "second daughter" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to the second-born female child in a family or a specific context where the order of daughters is relevant. Example: "In our family, the second daughter has always been the most adventurous."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

A second daughter arrived.

The New York Times

Dr. Kimball's second daughter, Maj.

The New York Times - Health

Our second daughter was stillborn in 2011.

The New York Times

With him, I had a second daughter.

The New Yorker

Our second daughter had become sick.

The New Yorker

Our second daughter was born in 1976.

The New York Times

She remarried and had a second daughter.

The New York Times

The second daughter, Charlynn, survived.

The New York Times - Health

1997 Second daughter is born.

The Guardian

His second daughter, Sarah, was born there.

The Guardian

His second daughter was born in 1982.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "second daughter" when the specific birth order is relevant to the context. Otherwise, consider using "younger daughter" or the daughter's name for clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "second daughter" if there are only two daughters and the distinction isn't crucial. Instead, using a more general term like "daughter" may be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "second daughter" primarily functions as a noun phrase acting as a subject complement or appositive, specifying a particular family member by birth order and gender. It pinpoints a specific individual within a family structure, clarifying her position in relation to her siblings. As Ludwig AI reports, the phrase is considered correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Wiki

15%

Science

15%

Less common in

Academia

10%

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

13%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "second daughter" is a grammatically sound and frequently used noun phrase that specifies a female child's birth order within her family. As noted by Ludwig AI, it's correct and usable in written English. It serves the primary function of identification, distinguishing one daughter from others, and its register is generally neutral, fitting various contexts from news reports to personal stories. Alternatives include "younger daughter", "middle daughter", or simply using the daughter's name, depending on the specific context and the level of detail required. The phrase appears most commonly in News & Media, Wiki and Science contexts. Be mindful of specifying birth order accurately when using this term.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

second-born daughter

More formal way of specifying birth order and gender.

daughter number two

More numerical and less descriptive than "second daughter".

younger daughter

Focuses on the age relative to other daughters, rather than birth order.

second female child

More clinical and less personal way to express the same meaning.

middle daughter

Implies there are at least three daughters, specifying the one in the middle.

the other daughter

Used when contrasting with a previously mentioned daughter.

my other daughter

Used when contrasting with a previously mentioned daughter, emphasizing the speaker's relationship.

next daughter

Refers to the daughter following the firstborn.

daughter following the eldest

A descriptive alternative, highlighting the position relative to the eldest daughter.

the subsequent daughter

A more formal and less common way of saying "second daughter".

FAQs

How do I use "second daughter" in a sentence?

You can use "second daughter" to specify the birth order of a female child in a family. For example, "My second daughter, Emily, is studying abroad this year."

What's the difference between "second daughter" and "middle daughter"?

"Second daughter" indicates the order of birth among daughters, while "middle daughter" implies there are at least three daughters. The "middle daughter" is neither the oldest nor the youngest.

Which is correct, "second daughter" or "second-born daughter"?

Both "second daughter" and "second-born daughter" are grammatically correct and can be used interchangeably, though "second daughter" is more common in everyday conversation.

What can I say instead of "second daughter"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "younger daughter" if emphasizing age or simply use the daughter's name. If there are only two daughters, you can also say "the other daughter" to differentiate.