[Vocabulary] Old and Elderly

Hello everybody,

Is "elderly" considered to be more polite than "old" when describing people?

Like here, for example:

"Please take into consideration that my client is an elderly lady.." ?

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Is "olderly" accepted nowdays? I've bumped into a couple of "olderlies" during my Google search.

Thank you.

GoodDay said:

Is "elderly" considered to be more polite than "old" when describing people? Yes definitely.

Is "olderly" accepted nowdays? I don't think it's ever been accepted.

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Rover

"Elderly" is definitely more polite, perhaps more formal. Even though we informally say "He is in an old people's home", the homes themselves generally use "Home for the Elderly".

An old guy walked past me.
An elderly gentleman walked past me.

I have never heard "olderly" in my life. Remember that you can find almost anything on Google - that doesn't make it right.

For me, it's purely personal. I accept that I am getting old (I'm coming up to 66). If 'old' is used of me, I accept that it is a statement of fact. I am no longer young and, although I think they are wrong, most people no longer think of me as 'middle-aged'. So, I am old. Fact.

However, when people start referring to me as 'elderly', then I will know I am past my 'best-by' date. 'Elderly' means, to me, restricted by advancing years, bent, shuffling, possibly dribbling, and secretly incontinent.

When they start referring to you as "66 years young" watch out! ;-)

I thank Rover_KE, emsr2d2, 5jj and SoothingDave for the replies.

I like when people express different opinions reflecting upon their personal lives

Thank you.

One term currently favoured is older people, which is a good alternative IMO.

GoodDay said:

Is "elderly" considered to be more polite than "old" when describing people?

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***** NOT A TEACHER *****


(1) IF I make it to March 31, I shall be 75 years old.

(2) I agree with 5jj: I would rather be called "old" than "elderly." The word

"elderly" gives me the impression of someone who is pathetically decrepit

(broken down).

(3) Here in the United States, we use "senior citizen" for us old/elderly people.

(4) It is also said that we are in our "golden years." Believe me, there is nothing

golden about being old. (My monthly bus pass does, however, cost me only $14 while

the younger ones have to pay about $50!)

It is really great of you(highly respected) older people to spend your time in answering the questions only with the motive of helping others and without any personal gain.

I am just 21 but I often feel lazy to read(and learn from) the forum for more than an hour but most of you,particularly 5jj sir, spend more time in helping others.


I think you people should teach(besides English) how to lead a systematic life to young people like us.


P.s. Parsar sir you are 75 years old!! I thought you would be around 40 while sending you couple of private messages.

TheParser said:

My monthly bus pass does, however, cost me only $14.

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Over 65s here get a free bus pass.

:loling:Rover

Rover_KE said:

Over 65s here get a free bus pass.

:loling:Rover

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I'm telling Mr. Cameron how he can further trim the deficit!:lol:

I remember a female friend being insulted when a store clerk referred to her as “lady”, perhaps instead of “ma’am”? I think she was offended in a similar way one might be offended when called “elderly” instead of “old[er]”.

Also, I remember a Spanish instructor specifically not using the word viejo (old) and instead using anciano (elderly), when referring to an older gentleman ;-) in the class, so it sounds like this is an issue in other languages as well.

TheParser said:

(3) Here in the United States, we use "senior citizen" for us old/elderly people.

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It is used in some contexts in BrE too- you sometimes see it when there's a concessionary price, but I don't here it used much to refer to a person.

BobSmith said:

Also, I remember a Spanish instructor specifically not using the word viejo (old) and instead using anciano (elderly), when referring to an older gentleman ;-) in the class, so it sounds like this is an issue in other languages as well.

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***** NOT A TEACHER *****


I think (think) that Spanish speakers also use the beautiful phrase "la

tercera edad" for us oldsters. That is, those who are in their third age.

Sorry, that's a bit off topic.

But I just want to seize the opportunity to thank all of you, all the active members in this wonderful website, for devoting your time and energy to help the others. And really that's very kind of you.

Thank you so much;-).

Best wishes,

My dad and stepmum belong to local clubs/groups which are said to be part of the "U3A" - University of the Third Age. I believe you have to be over 60 (or 65) to join.

GoodDay said:

Is "elderly" considered to be more polite than "old"

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***** NOT A TEACHER *****


(1) A very nice teacher on the Web has just taught me another way to refer to

someone who is no longer young. That is, who is middle-aged:

That man and woman are of a certain age.

(2) But the term also seems to be extending past middle age.

That nice teacher directed me to a newspaper article that described some

men in their 80's as men of a certain age!

(3) So I guess that if you do not wish to label middle-aged people as "middle-aged,"

you can call them people of a certain age. (Women would especially appreciate

this act of kindness on your part.)

(4) But maybe even people past middle age are being referred to as people of a certain

age. So instead of calling myself "old," "elderly," or "a septuagenarian," I can

now proudly claim to be a gentleman of a certain age.

I was once described as 'a gentleman of mature years'. Not sure how I feel about that.

In this example, "Men of a Certain Age" means late 40's.

5jj said:

I was once described as 'a gentleman of mature years'. Not sure how I feel about that.

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Gentleman :shocked!: