young charges

USAGE SUMMARY

'young charges' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is usually used to refer to a group of young people who are under an adult's care or guardianship. For example: "The teacher took her young charges on a field trip to the museum."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Special, Calhoun labeled his young charges.

The New York Times - Sports

The young charges looked up, mostly in awe.

The New York Times

Ms. Le is fiercely proud of her young charges.

The New York Times

Did Palomaki worry that the school might be overly robust for its young charges?

Independent

A suspected predator who exploits his position to take advantage of his young charges.

The New York Times - Sports

Some of his young charges went on to become college stars.

The New York Times

He saw himself as a paterfamilias, fussing over his young charges.

The New York Times - Books

Kent staff now travel to these areas to support their young charges.

The Guardian

Do film-makers take their responsibility to their young charges seriously where edgier material is involved?

The Guardian - Film

Managers or coaches sometimes wear such jewelry as a spur, perhaps, to their young charges.

The New York Times - Sports

Cruellest of all, she constantly threatens to leave, playing on her young charges' terror of abandonment.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "young charges" when you want to emphasize the responsibility and care an adult has for a group of young people. It's suitable in contexts ranging from education to legal guardianship.

Common error

Avoid using "young charges" in contexts where "charges" might be misinterpreted as legal accusations. Ensure the context clearly indicates you are referring to individuals under someone's care, not criminal accusations.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "young charges" is as a noun phrase, typically functioning as the object of a verb or preposition. It refers to a group of young people who are under the care, supervision, or responsibility of an adult or organization. As Ludwig confirms, it's a correct and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

73%

Science

11%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "young charges" is a grammatically sound and frequently used noun phrase, particularly within news and media. According to Ludwig, it's considered a correct and usable phrase for referring to young individuals under someone's care. While it maintains a neutral register, its usage spans various contexts, emphasizing the responsibility of caregivers. To ensure clarity, be mindful of potential misinterpretations with legal "charges". Alternatives like ""young wards"" or ""young dependents"" can be employed depending on the specific nuance intended. Ludwig's extensive collection of examples underscores the phrase's widespread acceptance and versatility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

young wards

Replaces "charges" with "wards", emphasizing legal guardianship or protection.

minor wards

Specifies that the young people are legally minors and under guardianship.

young dependents

Focuses on the reliance of the young people on their caregivers.

youthful proteges

Highlights a mentoring relationship and potential for future success.

young pupils

Specifically refers to students or learners under instruction.

young students

Another way to refer to pupils.

little ones

Emphasizes the youth and small size of the children being cared for.

young generation

Refers to the people.

junior members

Describes young people within a group or organization.

young generation

Broadly refers to all young people or the rising generation.

FAQs

How can I use "young charges" in a sentence?

You can use "young charges" to refer to young people under someone's care. For example, "The teacher took her "young charges" on a field trip."

What are some alternatives to saying "young charges"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "young wards", "young dependents", or "youthful proteges".

Is "young charges" formal or informal?

"Young charges" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. The formality depends more on the overall writing style and the specific situation.

What is the difference between "young charges" and "young students"?

While both refer to young people, ""young charges"" implies a broader sense of care and responsibility, not necessarily limited to an educational setting. "Young students" specifically refers to young people who are being educated.