The elder

[Rachel Adams]

Hello.

What is a polite way to refer to older people? Is it ''the elder?''

 

[jutfrank]

As always, it depends largely on what exactly you want to say, to whom, why, whether you're speaking or writing, etc.

 

[Rachel Adams]

As always, it depends largely on what exactly you want to say, to whom, why, whether you're speaking or writing, etc.

I think I read somewhere about the elder being used when referring to older people. Or maybe it was a similar expression? For example, ''I have no respect for the country that doesn't care about its senior citizens (as Piscean suggested or) the elder.

 

[jutfrank]

In that sentence, use Piscean's suggestion senior citizens because the sentence is talking about the people as citizens of a country.

If you write a sentence that is not referring to elderly people as citizens, then senior citizens is not likely going to be the best word to use.

 

[emsr2d2]

I think you're looking for "the elderly". That is still used but "senior citizens" is probably more common in the UK.

 

[jutfrank]

It is not a question of which term is more common. It's a question of the different uses of the terms.

 

[Rachel Adams]

I think you're looking for "the elderly". That is still used but "senior citizens" is probably more common in the UK.

Exactly! Thank you.

 

[Yankee]

And just a point on "the elder". It usually/only would be used when comparing ages of persons as in, "Between John and James, John is 'the elder'.