was of age

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was of age" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that someone has reached the legal age for certain rights or responsibilities, such as voting or drinking alcohol. Example: "By the time she turned 18, she was of age to vote in the elections."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

36 human-written examples

not a single one of the defendants was of age at the time he's talking about.

Cornell University

He was of age and had the right to abandon one residence and take up another.

Cornell University

That was before anyone, including myself, was of age to understand the vagaries of sexuality.

The Guardian - Sport

"Margaret [McCaw's mother], rang me up before he was of age to play and said: 'Can you please take him?

The Guardian

Every man who was of age in the fall of 2013 will claim he had one, too.

The New Yorker

Before he was of age, he had set up an atelier & for the next 20 years designed textiles.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

24 human-written examples

Beers in hand (actually only Levie was of age-barely, so Smith was drinking water), the pair pitched Melton on their idea.

TechCrunch

You will be of age then.

The New Yorker

You had to be of age.

The New York Times

The qualifications are of age, residence, and registration.

Cornell University

"I have three children who are of age," he said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was of age" when specifically referring to someone meeting a legal or culturally defined age for certain rights or responsibilities. It's particularly useful when discussing historical contexts or legal situations.

Common error

Avoid using "was of age" when you simply mean someone became more mature or developed certain qualities. Instead, use phrases like "matured" or "grew wiser" in such contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was of age" functions as a prepositional phrase that modifies a noun or pronoun, indicating that someone had attained the legally or culturally defined age of adulthood. Ludwig provides many examples of its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

51%

Academia

16%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

6%

Science

6%

Formal & Business

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "was of age" is a common prepositional phrase indicating that an individual had reached the legal or culturally defined age of adulthood. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent usage across various contexts, especially in News & Media. While similar phrases like "reached adulthood" or "came of age" exist, "was of age" specifically emphasizes meeting a legal or formal age requirement. When using this phrase, ensure it aligns with the context of legal or cultural adulthood rather than general maturity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reached the legal age

Specifically refers to reaching the age where certain laws apply.

reached adulthood

Focuses on the general transition to being an adult, rather than a specific age.

met the age requirement

Focuses on fulfilling a specific age criterion.

qualified by age

Indicates that someone met the age criteria for something.

came of age

Highlights the process of maturing or reaching a significant milestone.

became an adult

A straightforward way to state the transition to adulthood.

entered adulthood

Highlights the entry into the phase of life considered adulthood.

attained majority

Emphasizes the legal aspect of reaching the age of adulthood.

was old enough

A simpler, less formal way to express reaching a certain age threshold.

achieved maturity

Implies a certain level of development and understanding.

FAQs

What does it mean when someone "was of age"?

It means that the person had reached the legally defined age of adulthood, granting them certain rights and responsibilities such as voting, drinking alcohol, or entering into contracts.

What can I say instead of "was of age"?

You can use alternatives like "reached adulthood", "came of age", or "reached the legal age" depending on the specific context.

Is "was of age" formal or informal?

"Was of age" is generally considered a neutral to slightly formal phrase. It's suitable for legal, historical, and general contexts where specifying the attainment of legal adulthood is relevant.

How do you use "was of age" in a sentence?

Example: "As soon as he "reached the legal age", he registered to vote." Another example, "She "reached adulthood" during a period of significant social change".