young

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "young" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone or something that is in the early stages of life or development. Example: "The young child played happily in the park, enjoying the sunshine."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Young British artists invited abroad very seldom face the difficulties faced by young artists who live outside the EU and are invited to perform here.

The Guardian

Scotland's 56 SNP MPs will certainly seek to amend the legislation to ensure that young people are able to take part in the vote".

The Guardian

Charles was a fine man, a talented politician, and a loving father to his young son.

The Guardian

"It is a huge waste of the next generation's skills, potential and talent and it comes at a huge cost to young black and minority-ethnic people, their families, taxpayers and the economy".

The Guardian

"We must show our young people, who may be targeted, that extremists have nothing to offer them.

The Guardian

A campaign has sprung up to help the promising young runner.

The Guardian

Last summer the Electoral Commission said 7.5 million eligible voters were not registered, with poor, black and young people least likely to be on the electoral roll.

The Guardian

Whichever view you take, multicultural and tolerant or disapproving and fearful, the awkward fact is that we have not been breeding fast enough (or young enough) to keep society functioning without outside help, let alone educating ourselves to the levels a post-industrial economy is going to need.

The Guardian

The purpose of this project was to start a conversation with young people and engage them in making something – we now have nearly 50,000 of them to date.

The Guardian

Young people in Scotland have embraced participative democracy like never before".

The Guardian

Related: The EU is young people's future.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing people, use "young" to refer to their age or stage of life. For concepts and systems, consider synonyms like "nascent" or "early-stage" for more precision.

Common error

Avoid using "young" excessively in formal or technical writing where more precise terms like "early-stage", "developing", or "nascent" would be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The word "young" primarily functions as an adjective, modifying nouns to indicate a state of being in the early part of life or development. Examples from Ludwig show it used to describe "young people", "young artists", and "young son".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The adjective "young" is a versatile term used to describe something or someone in an early stage of life or development. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is correct and usable in written English, appearing "Very common"ly in various contexts, predominantly in "News & Media". While generally neutral, it's advisable to use more precise terms like "early-stage" or "nascent" in formal contexts for enhanced clarity. Alternatives such as "youthful", "juvenile", and "inexperienced" offer nuanced ways to convey similar meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

youthful

Emphasizes the qualities associated with youth, such as energy and vitality.

juvenile

Highlights immaturity or characteristics typical of childhood.

adolescent

Specifically refers to the period of transition from childhood to adulthood.

inexperienced

Focuses on the lack of knowledge or skill due to limited exposure.

budding

Suggests potential and early stages of development, often used for talents or careers.

nascent

Implies something just coming into existence and still developing.

early-stage

Highlights the beginning phase of a process or development.

in one's youth

Refers to a period in the past when someone was young.

newly formed

Describes something recently created or established.

underage

Specifies being below a certain legal age, often implying restrictions.

FAQs

How can I use "young" in a sentence?

You can use "young" to describe age (e.g., "a young child"), inexperience (e.g., "a young professional"), or freshness (e.g., "a young wine").

What can I say instead of "young"?

You can use alternatives like "youthful", "juvenile", or "inexperienced" depending on the context.

What is the difference between "young" and "youthful"?

"Young" refers directly to age, while "youthful" implies possessing qualities of youth, such as vitality and energy, regardless of actual age.

Is it appropriate to use "young" in formal writing?

While "young" is acceptable, consider using more specific terms like "early-career" or "nascent" in formal contexts for greater precision.