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Anonymous Posted 18 years ago
Grammar

21 years old or 21-year-old

Hi there, why do some people put "21 years old or 21-year-old?" Can you tell me why and how to use it? Thank you

I am 21 years old.

I am 21-year-old.

He is 26 years old
  

Top answer

" Can you tell me why and how to use it? Thank you I am 21 years old. I am 21-year-old.

— BarbaraPA

  • " Can you tell me why and how to use it?
  • Thank you I am 21 years old.
  • I am 21-year-old.
  • This one is incorrect.
  • It should be I am a 21-year-old.
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20 Answers
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AnonymousHi there, why do some people put "21 years old or 21-year-old?" Can you tell me why and how to use it? Thank you

I am 21 years old.

I am 21-year-old. This one is incorrect. It should be I am a 21-year-old.

He is 26 years old


He is 9. He is 9 years old. He is a 9-year-old.

The last
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Hi!

I have a question relating to this. Which of the following is correct, and why?

A) 18-and 19-year-olds
B) 18-and-19-year-olds
C) 18 and 19-year-olds

Thanks.
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Ah, the suspended hyphen.

18- and 19-year-olds

It's the same as "We offer two- and four-week sessions." or "It comes in 2-, 4-, and 6-inch lengths."

If you have two (or more) hyphenated phrases that end the same way, you can use the hyphen after the first one and "suspend" the rest of the phrase until the second one.
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Grammar GeekHe is 9. He is 9 years old. He is a 9-year-old.

The last one is a noun.


Also: Rex is a 9-year-old spaniel. (adjective)
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Thank you, Grammar Geek! Emotion: smile
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Hi,

I am curious about using this word "years" as I have seen that it can be used with the noun + 's structure.

Can I say "I am 25 years' old guy"? In the same way I can say "I have 13 years' experience".
Or is the "I am a 25-year-old guy" the only way to go?

Thanks
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EagerSeekerCan I say "I am 25 years' old guy"? In the same way I can say "I have 13 years' experience".

No, this is not said.
EagerSeekerOr is the "I am a 25-year-old guy" the only way to go?

I am a guy and I'm 25 years old. I'm a guy who's 25 years old.

I've heard some people say things like "A woman of a ce
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Grammar Geek
EagerSeekerCan I say "I am 25 years' old guy"? In the same way I can say "I have 13 years' experience".
No, this is not said.
EagerSeekerOr is the "I am a 25-year-old guy" the only way to go?

I am a guy and I'm 25 years old. I'm a guy who's 25 years old.

I've heard some
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You may NOT say "I am 25 years' old guy". That makes no sense. The apostrophe from sentences such as "I have 13 years' experience" is there denoting possession; the experience belongs to the 13 years. What does the apostrophe mean in "I am 25 years' old guy"? Nothing. It is incorrect in that context. An apostrophe should never be used to denote plurality. That is becoming a common misuse.
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