ten-year-old

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "ten-year-old" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe the age of a person or an object, often in contexts related to children or age-specific items. Example: "The ten-year-old boy won the spelling bee competition."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

43 human-written examples

Arranged marriages — for ten-year-old cousins.

The New Yorker

"Dear Mayor," one ten-year-old wrote.

The New Yorker

To my ten-year-old, that's TV".

The New Yorker

Bergeron's then ten-year-old boy, Allistair.

The New Yorker

A ten-year-old boy was killed along with him.

The New Yorker

Lutsky says he ran to the ten-year-old.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

17 human-written examples

Well into his 40th year, older than the referee for Tuesday's match, Carlos Velasco Carballo, van der Sar insists that this is his final season.

The New York Times - Sports

The BIMAs are 23rd years old and are described as "the only significant digital creative awards in the UK which celebrate digital creative excellence and best practice".

TechCrunch

I have enlisted MY TEN YEAR OLD SELF.

Huffington Post

All school students in 7th 13-144 years old) and 9th 15-166 years old) grade of elementary school, and 2nd 17-188 years old) grade of secondary school in the county, a total of 57 schools, were asked to complete a questionnaire during class hours.

BMC Public Health

ON JANUARY 1st 29-year-old Brittany Maynard (pictured) was diagnosed with brain cancer.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "ten-year-old" as an adjective, hyphenate it. For example, "a "ten-year-old" film" or "the "ten-year-old" girl." However, when used as a noun, it doesn't require a hyphen. For example, "The ten-year-old is remarkably mature."

Common error

Avoid adding an extra space after the hyphen when using "ten-year-old" as a compound adjective. It should be written as "ten-year-old", not "ten - year-old".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ten-year-old" primarily functions as a compound adjective modifying a noun, as seen in examples like "ten-year-old boy." It can also function as a noun, referring to a person or thing that is ten years old. This is supported by Ludwig's analysis, confirming its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Science

18%

Wiki

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "ten-year-old" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to describe something that is ten years of age. As Ludwig confirms, it is correct and widely used across various contexts. It typically functions as a compound adjective, requiring a hyphen when modifying a noun (e.g., "a "ten-year-old" girl"). Its communicative purpose is straightforward: to specify age. Found predominantly in News & Media, it's versatile enough for informal and scientific contexts. Common errors include misusing or omitting hyphens. Alternatives such as "decade-old" may suit different contexts. Following these guidelines ensures precise and clear communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ten-year-old child

Explicitly states 'child' after the age descriptor, may sound redundant.

decade-old

Emphasizes the duration of ten years.

a ten-year-old person

Replaces 'child' with 'person', making it slightly more formal or general.

ten years of age

A more formal and verbose version.

a child of ten

Focuses on the individual being a child.

aged ten

Highlights the age as a key characteristic.

a youngster of ten years

Uses 'youngster' to denote youth and specifies 'of ten years'.

about ten years old

Indicates an approximation of the age.

approximately ten years old

Formal way of indicating that the age is an approximation.

in their tenth year

Refers to being in the tenth year of existence or age.

FAQs

How do I use "ten-year-old" in a sentence?

You can use "ten-year-old" as an adjective before a noun (e.g., "a "ten-year-old" boy") or as a noun itself (e.g., "the "ten-year-old" loves to read").

What are some alternatives to "ten-year-old"?

Alternatives include "decade-old" for objects, or phrases like "a child of ten" or "aged ten" for people.

Is it correct to say "ten year old" instead of "ten-year-old"?

When used as an adjective before a noun, "ten-year-old" should be hyphenated. "Ten year old" is grammatically incorrect in this context. However, you can say "the child is ten years old".

What's the difference between "ten-year-old" and "ten years old"?

"Ten-year-old" functions as a compound adjective (e.g., "a "ten-year-old" car"), while "ten years old" is a phrase describing age (e.g., "the car is ten years old").