since youth

USAGE SUMMARY

"since youth" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to someone's past, usually to indicate a long period of time. For example, "He has been a leader since youth and continues to be a guiding force today."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

50 human-written examples

Having an investor with a youthful outlook helps, since youth is basic to fashion, and explains why Proenza Schouler has stayed at the front of a class of downtown darlings that emerged a decade ago.

The New York Times

Ego (Arthur's nickname since youth) has laid every-thing on.

The Guardian - Books

Since youth, Camus has worked around the theatre, and has written & adapted plays.

The New Yorker

Her left leg is lame since youth, but she has all her teeth.

The New Yorker

Since youth sports are organized by age bracket, teams inevitably have a cutoff birth date.

The New York Times - Magazine

But as has been her style since youth, she ignored what everyone else thought and went to work.

University of California, Berkeley

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

10 human-written examples

This is my first final, probably my first of any kind since youth-team football, and it's in the biggest competition: so it's sink or swim.

The Guardian - Sport

Gary Cahill has described his prospective first appearance in a final since youth-team football as "sink or swim" as he prepares to partner David Luiz at the heart of Chelsea's defence in Saturday's Champions League showpiece against Bayern Munich.

The Guardian - Sport

The White House had been debating the likelihood of a domino effect since youth-driven revolts had toppled President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali in Tunisia, even though the American intelligence community and Israel's intelligence services had estimated that the risk to President Mubarak was low — less than 20percentt, some officials said.

The New York Times

Camelot Pier at 42nd Street (Slide 1) seemed an unlikely bright spot, since youths were diving into water filled with abandoned cars and other debris.

The New York Times

Camelot Pier at 42nd Street seemed an unlikely bright spot, since youths were diving into water filled with abandoned cars and other debris.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "since youth" when you want to emphasize the long duration and formative nature of an experience or characteristic.

Common error

While grammatically correct, "since youth" can sound slightly informal or sentimental in certain formal or academic writing. Consider using alternatives like "from an early age" or "since childhood" for a more neutral tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "since youth" functions as an adverbial phrase of time, modifying a verb or clause by indicating when an action or state began. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable status in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "since youth" is a grammatically correct and usable adverbial phrase that indicates a starting point in one's younger years. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is versatile and can be used across various contexts. While common in news, academia, and scientific writing, it can also be used in other fields. When aiming for more formal tones, consider alternatives like "from an early age". The phrase is well-supported by examples and authoritative sources, making it a reliable choice for expressing duration and formative experiences.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

from a young age

Replaces "since youth" with a more common and straightforward expression of starting in early life.

from an early age

Similar to "from a young age", but emphasizes the earliness of the starting point.

since childhood

Substitutes "youth" with "childhood", specifying the period of life referred to.

from childhood

Similar to "since childhood", but emphasizing the starting point.

since boyhood

Specifically refers to the period of being a boy, implying a male subject.

since girlhood

Specifically refers to the period of being a girl, implying a female subject.

since adolescence

Refers to the period of adolescence, a more specific age range than "youth".

from my earliest years

A more personal and emphatic way of saying "since youth", focusing on personal experience.

for as long as I can remember

Expresses a long duration from the speaker's perspective, implying since youth.

all my life

Indicates a duration spanning the entirety of one's life, including youth.

FAQs

How can I use "since youth" in a sentence?

You can use "since youth" to indicate the starting point of an action, habit, or characteristic. For example, "He has been passionate about astronomy "since youth"."

What's a more formal alternative to "since youth"?

Alternatives such as "from an early age" or "since childhood" might be more appropriate in formal writing compared to "since youth".

What is the difference between "since childhood" and "since youth"?

"Since childhood" specifically refers to the period of being a child, while "since youth" is broader and can include adolescence. They are largely interchangeable, but "since childhood" provides a more precise age range.

Can I use "since youth" to describe something that started in my twenties?

While "youth" can sometimes extend into the early twenties, it's generally more accurate to use "since my early twenties" or "since my young adulthood" for greater clarity.