[Grammar] AGE

[EverLivingPoet]

"He moved out at age 20."

Could "at" be dropped without ill effects?

 

[billmcd]

"He moved out at age 20."

Could "at" be dropped without ill effects?

Depends what you mean by "ill effects". Would I understand? Yes. Is it natural/common/correct? No.

 

[EverLivingPoet]

I meant could "at" be dropped without the sentence being marked wrong?

 

[SoothingDave]

No, leave it there.

 

[vexed]

I'd say, in written/formal contexts certainly use 'at'. It's grammatically correct.

In spoken/informal contexts you could leave 'at' out and be understood. The only reason I can see for leaving it out is that it's slightly easier and quicker to pronounce the sentence 'He moved out aged 20' than 'He moved out at age 20'.

 

[Barb_D]

I would never drop "at" there. I would consider dropping "aged" there, though.

He moved out at 20. She married at 18. She had her first child at 24.

 

[sunsunmoon]

age
— used to indicate an age or time
▪ He plans to retire at (age) 65. ▪ He called us at (about/exactly) 9 o'clock on July 24. ▪ at dawn/noon/sunset/night ▪ I still think of her at certain moments/times. ▪ He was president of the company at (the time of) his death.

 

[Tdol]

Maybe it's a BrE difference, but I would use at the age of/aged 20.