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Anonymous Posted 10 years ago
Grammar

Older or elder?

I want to understand how these two words are different from each other and how these are used in different sentences. Kindly explain with a few examples.
Also, please explain whether it's 'older/elder to me' or 'older/elder than me'?
  

Top answer

Anonymous Older or elder? (Original post)Quote I want to understand how these two words are different from each other and how these are used in different sentences. The rule is that 'elder' can appear only as a premodifier of 'one or more of a group of relatives or otherwise related' people.

— Mister Micawber

  • Anonymous Older or elder?
  • (Original post)Quote I want to understand how these two words are different from each other and how these are used in different sentences.
  • The rule is that 'elder' can appear only as a premodifier of 'one or more of a group of relatives or otherwise related' people.
  • The reality is that the word is rarely used nowadays, with 'older' replacing it in all but older writings.
  • Anonymous Also, please explain whether it's 'older/elder to me' or 'older/elder than me'?
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2 Answers
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AnonymousOlder or elder? (Original post)Quote I want to understand how these two words are different from each other and how these are used in different sentences.
The rule is that 'elder' can appear only as a premodifier of 'one or more of a group of relatives or otherwise related' people. The reality is that the word is rarely used nowadays, with 'older' re
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Anonymous it's 'older/elder to me' or 'older/elder than me'?
Always use "older" in comparatives. I am older than Jim. May is older than me.

Elder is used like this:
Maria is my elder sister.

The word "elderly" is much more common than "elder.".
It means "very old."
Our elderly aunt cannot travel to visit us anymo
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