youth

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "youth" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to young people or the period of their lives. For example, "The youth of today will shape the future of our world."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Lifestyle

Society

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Now money from business and individuals has dried up and public funding for youth projects is doled out to the political parties' youth affiliates.

The Guardian

Lauten's comments are part of a tradition of youth being caricatured as deviant.

The Guardian - Opinion

All groundwork must now be funded and approved by the Office for Security and Counter-Terrorism – including engagement with Muslim youth.

The Guardian

Between sips, you can place that beer on specially designed stands that reside here, next to each of the dozens of classic video arcade games of your youth (or maybe your older brother or sister's youth).

The Guardian - Travel

We are creatures of habit, particularly when it comes to the bad ones, and struggle to adjust when called upon to expand beyond behavioural settings hardwired in our youth.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Temi grew up on Barnet's largest estate where she experienced a lot of youth violence and gang-related culture.

The Guardian

After joining the UK youth parliament and creating a documentary based on her experiences, Temi founded Get Outta the Gang which aims to raise awareness, help rebuild family structures and give young people a long term focus beyond youth violence.

The Guardian

It mimics a war and is more serious than youth violence".

The Guardian

Those involved in youth violence are dubbed gangs when really they are groups on the periphery who commit robberies and other crimes as a group of friends.

The Guardian

At the other end of the pitch, star striker Amad Al-Hosni has troubled Australia in the past and is increasingly surrounded by younger team-mates as Le Guen, who is approaching an impressive three year anniversary in the job, has used his joint role as Olympic coach to smoothen the transition from youth teams to senior side.

The Guardian - Sport

Are there more coffee shops now than there were in the 1950s, the last time youth culture revolved around the espresso machine?

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing broad societal trends, use "youth" to refer to young people collectively. For example, "The concerns of today's youth are often different from those of previous generations."

Common error

Avoid using "youth" as an adjective. Instead of saying "youth program", say "youth program" or "program for young people".

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "youth" is as a noun, referring to the period of life when one is young, or to young people collectively. Ludwig confirms its correctness and usability. Examples show its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Sport

12%

Lifestyle

9%

Less common in

Opinion

6%

Business

3%

Books

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "youth" is a versatile noun referring to young people or the state of being young. It's grammatically correct and frequently used, as confirmed by Ludwig. While often interchangeable with terms like "young people" or "adolescents", it's important to use it correctly, avoiding its use as an adjective. Ludwig examples show that "youth" appears most often in News & Media, followed by Sport and Lifestyle, indicating its broad applicability and relevance in discussing contemporary issues and trends related to younger generations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

young people

Broader term referring to individuals in their early years, interchangeable in many contexts.

young adults

Specifically denotes individuals transitioning from adolescence to adulthood.

adolescence

Refers to the developmental stage between childhood and adulthood.

early years

Focuses on the initial period of life.

young generation

Emphasizes a collective of young individuals sharing similar experiences and values.

teenage years

Specifies the period from ages 13 to 19.

juvenile period

Emphasizes the legal or developmental aspects of being young.

childhood

Refers to the earlier phase of life, preceding adolescence.

bloom of youth

Emphasizes the vibrancy and vitality associated with being young.

rising generation

Highlights the role of young people as future leaders and innovators.

FAQs

How to use "youth" in a sentence?

"Youth" can be used as a noun to refer to young people collectively, as in "The "youth" are our future". It can also refer to the period of being young, as in "I spent my "youth" traveling the world".

What can I say instead of "youth"?

You can use alternatives like "young people", "adolescents", or "teenagers" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "youth" or "youngs"?

"Youth" is the correct plural form when referring to a group of young people. "Youngs" is not a standard English word.

What is the difference between "youth" and "childhood"?

"Childhood" refers to the early period of life, while "youth" encompasses the period following childhood, typically adolescence and early adulthood.