the second oldest

[petr]

I ´d like to ask if I can say the second oldest.
Thanks in advance

[Coffa]

Originally Posted by petr

I ´d like to ask if I can say the second oldest.
Thanks in advance

Yes, you can say it .

It is both understandable, and would be used by many native English speakers. If you want to be technically correct, you should say 'the second eldest' - but don't worry about it.

[MikeNewYork]

Originally Posted by Coffa

Yes, you can say it .

It is both understandable, and would be used by many native English speakers. If you want to be technically correct, you should say 'the second eldest' - but don't worry about it.

"Second oldest" would be far more common in AE.

Google:

Web Results 1 - 10 of about 1,340,000 for "second oldest".

Web Results 1 - 10 of about 85,900 for "second eldest".

[Coffa]

Originally Posted by MikeNewYork

"Second oldest" would be far more common in AE.

Google:

Web Results 1 - 10 of about 1,340,000 for "second oldest".

Web Results 1 - 10 of about 85,900 for "second eldest".

It's far more common to think that William Wallace looked like Mel Gibson (especially if you base your research on Google). It's not 'technically correct' however .

[MikeNewYork]

Originally Posted by Coffa

It's far more common to think that William Wallace looked like Mel Gibson (especially if you base your research on Google). It's not 'technically correct' however .

Technically correct for whom? Whichever "rule" you are quoting doesn't exist in my version of English.