Youth

The early period of life associated with development and new possibility.

Reach for it when discussing a life stage without romanticizing or diminishing it

In her youth, she learned the repair techniques she now teaches.

• everyday

  young age

  when chronological earliness is the simple fact

  not when Young age is awkward in many sentences and says less about a lived period.

• warm

  early years

  when childhood or the beginning of a career is meant

  not when Early years can exclude adolescence and depends heavily on context.

• professional

  adolescence

  when the developmental period between childhood and adulthood is exact

  not when Adolescence covers only part of what different contexts call youth.

• professional

  young adulthood

  when the post-adolescent stage is specifically intended

  not when Young adulthood excludes children and teenagers included within youth.

Young people considered collectively.

Reach for it when referring to a group of younger people in policy or community contexts

Local youth designed the new practice area and its rules.

• everyday

  young people

  when clear person-first wording is preferred

  not when Young people is plural and cannot replace youth as an abstract life stage.

• professional

  adolescents

  when a defined developmental group is meant

  not when Adolescents excludes children and many young adults included in youth programs.

• professional

  youth community

  when a connected group and its shared interests are central

  not when Youth community can imply unity that has not been established.

• formal

  younger generation

  when contrast with older generations is relevant

  not when The phrase treats a diverse age group as one cohort and can overgeneralize.

• old age
• later life
• older people
• elders

• in her youth

  In her youth, Ana challenged the rule she later helped replace.

• youth program

  The youth program pays participants for advisory work.

• local youth

  Local youth chose shade and free water as the park's first priorities.

Youth is not a single viewpoint or personality. Use young people when referring to people, and name the age range in policy or research.