twenty years old

USAGE SUMMARY

"twenty years old" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase to describe someone's age. For example: "The woman was twenty years old when she started her own business."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

53 human-written examples

I was twenty years old.

The New Yorker

He was twenty years old.

The New Yorker

Kabir is twenty years old.

The New Yorker

Pokémon is twenty years old?

The New Yorker

I was around twenty years old.

Columbia University

Santana wasn't twenty years old, he learned.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

7 human-written examples

"You're six years old".

The New Yorker

Five years old.

The New York Times

Just twenty-seven years old".

The New Yorker

One was eleven years old.

The New Yorker

Wyland is twelve years old.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a person's age, ensure the phrase "twenty years old" is used consistently with other age-related descriptions in your text for clarity.

Common error

Avoid using a hyphen when "twenty years old" follows a verb (e.g., 'He is twenty years old'). Use a hyphen when it precedes the noun it modifies (e.g., 'a twenty-year-old man').

Linguistic Context

The phrase "twenty years old" primarily functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun to indicate age. Ludwig shows this usage in numerous examples, affirming its grammatical role in describing age.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Academia

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "twenty years old" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe the age of a person, object, or concept. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is widely used across various contexts, from formal news reports to informal conversations. When using "twenty years old", remember to use a hyphen when it precedes the noun it modifies. Alternatives like "two decades old" or "in their twenties" can be used depending on the specific context and desired level of precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

exactly twenty years old

Adds emphasis on the precision of the age.

precisely twenty years old

Synonymous to 'exactly twenty years old', focusing on accuracy.

two decades old

Uses a different unit of time (decades) to express the same duration.

two decades of age

Similar to 'two decades old' but emphasizes the period.

at the age of twenty

Specifies the age as a point in time when something occurred.

aged twenty years

Rephrases the age using a passive construction.

of twenty years in age

More formal and slightly archaic way of expressing age.

in their twenties

Refers to the general age range rather than the specific age.

celebrating their twentieth year

Focuses on the anniversary or milestone of being twenty years.

a score of years

Uses archaic term 'score' to refer to a period of 20 years.

FAQs

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

You can use "twenty years old" to describe the age of a person, object, or concept. For example, "She is "twenty years old"", or "The tradition is "twenty years old"".

What are some alternatives to saying "twenty years old"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "two decades old", "aged twenty years", or "in their twenties".

Is it correct to say "twenty-years-old"?

The correct usage depends on the context. Use "twenty years old" after a verb (e.g., 'He is twenty years old'). Use "twenty-year-old" before a noun (e.g., 'a twenty-year-old student').

What's the difference between "twenty years old" and "in their twenties"?

"Twenty years old" specifies an exact age, while "in their twenties" refers to the general period of being between 20 and 29 years of age.