[Vocabulary] I am in my early twenties

[newkeenlearner]

Are these correct?

How old are you?

I am in my early twenties = 21,22,23
I am in my middle twenties = 24,25,26
I am in my late twenties = 27,28,29

 

[Rover_KE]

Yes.

 

[emsr2d2]

It's usually "mid-twenties" in BrE (not "middle twenties").

 

[Tdol]

They're not absolute categories- a 24-year-old might use early twenties.

 

[emsr2d2]

And a 27-year-old might still use "mid-twenties" because "late twenties" suggests "nearly 30". Why that would worry anyone I have no idea but some people are very touchy about their age.

 

[Barb_D]

All I know is that now that I"m on the other side of 50, I can't tell a 16-year-old in makeup from a 24-year-old and see just about zero difference in the maturity of a 27-year-old or 31-year-old. I know it was important to me at 25, but now, the difference between 25 and 28 is nothing.

 

[emsr2d2]

Our exactness about our age changes with our age. A small child, when asked their age, might say "I'm six and three-quarters!" By the time we reach our teenage years, we just give the age - "I'm eighteen". Approaching the age of 40, some people start being a little more vague - "I'm, um, over 35" or "I'm clinging on to the right side of 40 with my fingertips". Between 40 and about 80, most people seem to be a bit more settled and just answer the question honestly - "I'm 54", "I'm 67" etc. After 80, we seem to get more exact, more optimistic and more proud - "I'll be 82 in December, you know!"

 

[Tdol]

Between 40 and about 80, most people seem to be a bit more settled and just answer the question honestly - "I'm 54", "I'm 67" etc.

That troubles me- I have to calculate it.