when I was a kid

USAGE SUMMARY

"when I was a kid" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to your childhood or to a specific event, experience, or memory from your childhood. For example: "When I was a kid, I wanted to be an astronaut when I grew up."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

"When I was a kid," he said.

The New York Times

"It began when I was a kid.

The New York Times - Sports

When I was a kid, we didn't have anything.

The New York Times - Magazine

He never talked about it when I was a kid".

The New Yorker

Neither was famous when I was a kid.

The New York Times - Magazine

"That was unheard of when I was a kid".

The New York Times

I was bullied when I was a kid.

The New York Times

That was what mattered when I was a kid.

The New Yorker

"I collected the comics when I was a kid.

The New York Times

Maybe nobody believed me when I was a kid.

The New York Times

Because I boxed when I was a kid.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "when I was a kid" to introduce anecdotes or personal experiences from your childhood, providing context or background information.

Common error

Avoid starting too many sentences with "when I was a kid" in a single piece of writing. Vary your sentence structure to maintain reader engagement and avoid monotony.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "when I was a kid" functions as an adverbial clause of time. It modifies the main clause by specifying the time frame in which the action or state described in the main clause occurred. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is correct and usable in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "when I was a kid" is a very common and grammatically correct way to refer to one's childhood. It functions as an adverbial clause of time, providing context for past experiences. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is usable and correct in written English. Its register is generally informal to neutral, frequently appearing in personal stories within news and media. While versatile, it's advisable to avoid overuse for stylistic reasons and consider alternatives like "as a child" or "during my childhood" to diversify writing. Its high frequency and consistent usage in reputable sources solidify its place as a reliable and easily understood expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

when I was younger

Uses a comparative adjective to indicate a past state of being.

as a child

Shorter and more direct way to state the same idea.

as a youngster

Replaces "kid" with a synonym emphasizing youthfulness.

in my childhood

More formal alternative using a noun phrase instead of a clause.

in my youth

A more concise and slightly formal way to refer to one's younger years.

during my childhood years

Emphasizes the period of childhood with added detail.

in my early years

Highlights the beginning stages of life.

from a young age

Focuses on the continuous aspect of something happening since childhood.

back in my younger days

Informal, nostalgic reference to one's youth.

during my formative years

Emphasizes the impact of childhood on development.

FAQs

How can I use "when I was a kid" in a sentence?

You can use "when I was a kid" to introduce a memory or experience from your childhood. For example, "When I was a kid, I used to spend hours playing outside."

What's a more formal alternative to "when I was a kid"?

A more formal way to say "when I was a kid" is "during my childhood" or "in my youth".

Is it grammatically correct to start a sentence with "when I was a kid"?

Yes, it's perfectly grammatically correct to start a sentence with "when I was a kid". It introduces a dependent clause that provides context for the main clause.

What are some similar phrases to "when I was a kid" that I can use to vary my writing?

You could also say "as a child", "when I was younger", or "in my early years" to convey a similar meaning.