Age

The most common style question relating to age is whether to spell out a number in words or use a numeral. It is also important to be sensitive around the representation of age.
Style basics
Always use numerals, but only hyphenate if the age comes before a noun
The club is 6 years old.
It is a 6-year-old club.

As with other numbers, the ASG recommends using numerals to show ages. 

Jacky turns 30 today.
It’s Jacky’s 30th birthday.
Jacky turns thirty today.
‘One’ is the only age to take care with, if you think the numeral might be lost in your body text.

The more common uncertainty is when to hyphenate ages in a sentence. Use hyphens if:

  • you’re using an age as a compound adjective before a noun
  • the age forms a single noun that is acting as the subject or object in a sentence.
A 17-year-old student is raising global awareness of climate change.
A 17-year-old is raising global awareness of climate change.
But if the adjective comes after the noun, leave out the hyphens.
The student who is raising global awarenesss of climate change is just 17 years old.
Key tip: if you’ve used the plural ‘years’ in a phrase, you can leave the hyphens out.
Inclusive language
Take care with references to old age and to children and young people

There are many sensitivities around human age, and much debate on the best way to refer to people once they have passed ‘middle age’.

Some prefer ‘older people’, because it seems less pejorative than terms such as ‘the elderly’ and more general than ‘retirees’ (which won’t apply to everyone). However, ‘older people’ is a relative term as people in their 30s are, of course, older than people in their teens. For this reason, others prefer ‘seniors’ (but not necessarily ‘senior citizens’).

To avoid giving offence:

  • if you can, ask people from the relevant age group for their preference
  • refer to numerical age ranges rather than word-based descriptors
  • never opt for euphemisms that might be viewed as condescending. 
The minister met with the local seniors association last Tuesday.
People aged 50 and over are taking up the new technology faster than 15- to 25-year-olds.
The agency is establishing a volunteer program to help the aged.
The club president still holds office at 83 years young.

Similarly, take care when referring to children and young people. In some contexts, ‘children’ refers to younger people who do not have maturity to make important decisions for themselves, while ‘young people’ are more experienced children who have capacity for independence. Different jurisdictions use 1 or both of these terms in definitions and legislation affecting children and young people.

Generally prefer the term ‘children and young people’ when referring to people under the age of 18, and be specific where you can.

Governments should consider the rights of children and young people when developing new laws.
Children under 8 travel for free.
See also:   Diversity and inclusion