three years old

USAGE SUMMARY

"three years old" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It is primarily used as an adjective phrase to describe the age of a person, object, or concept. It can be used in a variety of situations, such as: 1. I have a three-year-old daughter who loves to play with dolls. 2. The antique clock in the living room is three years old and still works perfectly. 3. The company has been in business for three years now. 4. The concept of renewable energy has been around for over three years. 5. My niece just turned three years old and had a princess-themed birthday party. In all of these examples, "three years old" is used to describe the age of a person, object, or concept. It can be used in both formal and informal writing, and is widely accepted in spoken English as well.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

44 human-written examples

Khader was three years old.

The New Yorker

Three years old and reciting Macbeth?

Independent

Henhouse No. 1 is three years old.

The New York Times

The tattoo recently turned three years old.

The New York Times - Sports

Groupon is less than three years old.

The New York Times

Greece's recession is three years old.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

16 human-written examples

The other said, "Forty-three years old.

The New Yorker

Forty-three years old, come on now!

The New York Times

Nusseibeh is fifty-three years old.

The New Yorker

Ridgeway was then seventy-three years old.

The New Yorker

She would have been ninety-three years old.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing people's age, use "three years old" after the noun (e.g., 'My son is "three years old"'). If you are using it before a noun, use "three-year-old" with a hyphen (e.g., 'He is a "three-year-old" boy').

Common error

Avoid using a hyphen when "years old" follows the noun. It's incorrect to say 'My son is three-years-old'. The correct usage is 'My son is "three years old"'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "three years old" primarily functions as an adjective phrase. It modifies a noun by specifying its age, whether referring to a person, object, or institution. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is a commonly used and grammatically correct construction.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

15%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Academia

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "three years old" is a grammatically sound and frequently used adjective phrase primarily employed to denote age or duration. As supported by Ludwig AI and the examples presented, it functions effectively across diverse contexts, including news, scientific literature, and general knowledge resources. While it maintains a neutral register, ensuring its appropriateness in both formal and informal settings, remember to use hyphens correctly when it preceeds a noun, forming compound adjectives such as '"three-year-old"'. Key sources like The New York Times and The Guardian consistently utilize the phrase, underscoring its broad acceptance and reliability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

aged three

Changes the structure to a past participle construction.

three-year-old

Uses a hyphenated adjective form.

of three years

Expresses the age as a duration.

at the age of three

Specifies the age as a point in time.

three years of existence

Focuses on the duration of being alive or active.

established three years ago

Highlights the starting point of an organization or entity.

in its third year

Describes something in its third year of operation or development.

a three-year duration

Emphasizes the length of a period.

three years since inception

Focuses on the time elapsed since something began.

three years in the making

Indicates the time invested in creating something.

FAQs

How can I use "three years old" in a sentence?

The phrase "three years old" is typically used to describe the age of someone or something. For example, "My daughter is "three years old" and loves to play in the park", or "The company is "three years old" and already has a significant market share".

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

"Three years old" is used as a predicate adjective, following a linking verb (e.g., is, was, seems). "Three-year-old", with a hyphen, is used as an attributive adjective, preceding the noun it modifies. For example: 'The child is "three years old"' versus 'He is a "three-year-old" boy'.

Is it grammatically correct to say "three-years-old"?

No, "three-years-old" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "three years old" when used after the noun (e.g., 'The child is "three years old"'). The hyphen is only used when the phrase functions as an adjective before the noun (e.g., 'a "three-year-old" child').

What are some other ways to express that something is "three years old"?

Alternatives include "aged three", "of three years", or "at the age of three", depending on the specific context. For example: 'The company is "aged three"' or 'She left home "at the age of three"'.