since elementary school

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "since elementary school" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe the length of time that something has been happening. For example, "I've been playing the piano since elementary school."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Nathan Veloric had learning issues since elementary school.

The New York Times

Solomon and Blumberg have been friends since elementary school.

The New Yorker

Owada has played baseball nonstop since elementary school.

The New York Times - Sports

"Jojima has studied English since elementary school," Nero said.

The New York Times

Gina Crawford was Katherine Russell's best friend since elementary school.

The Guardian

I've been watching him since elementary school and he just keeps improving".

The New York Times

It is not easy to slow down when you've been programmed and scheduled since elementary school.

The New York Times

It was my best friend, Artie, whom I'd known since elementary school.

The New Yorker

All the subjects had been tracked for reading ability since elementary school.

The New York Times - Health

The two grew up in the same area and have been playing together since elementary school.

The Washington Post

People she had known since elementary school wrote nasty tweets about her.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using this phrase, ensure that the verb tense reflects an action or state that began in the past and continues to the present. For example, use present perfect tense: "She has been interested in science since elementary school."

Common error

Avoid using past simple tense with "since elementary school" when referring to an ongoing action. "I played the piano since elementary school" is incorrect. Use the present perfect or present perfect continuous tense instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "since elementary school" functions as an adverbial phrase indicating the starting point of an action, state, or period. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and usable in written English, specifying a duration that began in the past and continues to the present.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Wiki

9%

Science

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "since elementary school" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe something that began during one's elementary school years and continues to the present. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is widely used across various contexts, particularly in news media, wikis, and scientific publications. When using this phrase, it's important to use the correct verb tense (present perfect or present perfect continuous) to accurately convey the ongoing nature of the action or state. Alternatives like "from a young age" or "since grade school" can be used for variety, depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

since grade school

Replaces 'elementary school' with another term for the same stage of education.

starting in elementary school

Emphasizes the beginning point more explicitly.

since my early school days

This is a more personal and slightly more formal way of saying the same thing.

during my elementary school years

This alternative shifts from "since" to specifying a period of time.

since the start of primary school

Replaces 'elementary school' with 'primary school', a term used in some countries.

from a young age

This alternative is more general, referencing early life rather than specifically elementary school.

from childhood

Similar to 'from a young age', this phrase broadens the timeframe to encompass the entire period of childhood.

since beginning elementary education

Uses more formal language to denote the start of elementary school.

since I was a child

Similar to "from childhood", this phrasing focuses on the speaker's personal experience.

from the time I attended elementary school

More verbose, but offers a slightly different emphasis on the speaker's attendance.

FAQs

How can I use "since elementary school" in a sentence?

Use "since elementary school" to indicate the beginning of an action or state that continues to the present. For example, "He has been a talented artist since elementary school".

What is another way to say "since elementary school"?

Alternatives include "from a young age", "from childhood", or "since grade school", depending on the desired level of formality and specificity.

Is it correct to say "from elementary school" instead of "since elementary school"?

While "from elementary school" can be used, it often requires additional context to clarify the duration. "Since elementary school" more directly implies a continuation to the present.

Can I use "since elementary school" to describe a past, completed action?

It's best to use "since elementary school" for ongoing actions or states. For a completed action that occurred during elementary school, use a past tense construction like "I learned to read in elementary school."