No childish matter: middle age vs. middle-age

Show rather than tell the backstory Self-publishing tip: Give yourself an...

No childish matter: middle age vs. middle-age

While the exact years that one enters middle age is uncertain, the spelling is very definite.

Middle age, a noun that means someone is about 40 to 65 years old, is two words (like ice cream) with no hyphen. For example: At the end of middle age, most people’s children have left home.

When using the word as an adjective – such as middle-aged – the hyphen appears, though. For example: Los Angeles has many middle-aged singles bars.

And with that, we can retire the issue of spelling of these two words for good.

Need an editor? Having your book, business document or academic paper proofread or edited before submitting it can prove invaluable. In an economic climate where you face heavy competition, your writing needs a second eye to give you the edge. Whether you come from a big city like Albuquerque, New Mexico, or a small town like Mud Butte, South Dakota, I can provide that second eye.