Can you tell the age of a writer by their work?

1. 70

   Anna Havenposted 11 years ago

   Can you tell the age of a writer by their work?
   
   Lots of people have no profile picture online or use an avator. Do you think you can roughly gauge a writer's age by their words?

   replyreport
2. 0

   Larry Wallposted 11 years ago

   Frequently, depending on the subject matter. If the person is talking about current events but does not mention any relationship to the past, he is very young. If a person talks about some type of classical topic, the demise of some tradition, he is older. Also, grammar and syntax tell a lot. Older people never say gonna nor speak with initials. Younger people usually are short on details in short answers and depend too much on TV personalities for their source regarding current events. There is nothing wrong, it is just a stage we all go through. I was young--once.

   replyreport
   1. 70

      Anna Havenposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Thankyou Larry Wall for reading and for answering.
      I smiled when you said 'I was young--once.'
      I know how you feel.

      replyreport
   2. 59

      The Examiner-1posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      What if the writer is old but after doing research, acts young and writes young and uses young words, etc.?

      replyreport
   3. 0

      Larry Wallposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      If he was old his phrases, adjectives and other similar things would give him away. However, it would be harder to detect age on a formal paper than a Hub question or comment.

      replyreport
   4. 70

      Anna Havenposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I supppose if the writer is deliberately projecting  a young age rather than their own more vintage one;  then that is the age they will appear to be in the virtual world. As it's all about the words.

      replyreport
   5. 0

      Ghost32posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      You made me grin, Larry.  As you know, I'm no spring chicken--and although I will definitely say "gotta" when I'm being colloquial, "gonna" is still kind of...TABOO!  LOL! (Note the Laugh Out Lout initials, deliberately and gracelessly inserted.)

      replyreport
   6. 0

      Larry Wallposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Since we have not defined what is old and what is young, it even makes the line between old and young writers more blurry. Thus we may have proved that in some cases we can tell and in some, we can never be sure. I dunno.

      replyreport
3. 83

   bravewarriorposted 11 years ago

   This is a very profound question, Anna.  I think sometimes you can determine the age of a writer by the lack of strength.  Then again, that can apply to any new writer.  I think age comes forth in the genre that they choose and the colloquailisms they choose.  Older writers use metaphors because they relate old to the new, while young (new) writers don't have that luxury unless they have mentors or parents who teach them the wonders of yesteryear.
   
   I'm a writer of old and don't relate much to the new format or mindset.  However, I can spin a tale, write a poem and put forth my thoughts without anyone responding with WTF?.
   
   A true writer doesn't show his age but rather his experience.

   replyreport
   1. 70

      Anna Havenposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Ah very good answer.
      Some old souls are in young bodies and some older people never mature.
      I suppose it all depends on the individual.

      replyreport
4. 0

   CalebSparksposted 11 years ago

   Possibly, but not usually. In my lifetime so far I've seen some older people with very little sense and some young people with a whole lot and vice versa.
   
   Wisdom goes beyond years and age. It's a matter of the heart.

   replyreport
   1. 70

      Anna Havenposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Very nicely put CalebSparks. Thankyou for answering

      replyreport
5. 79

   dghbrhposted 11 years ago

   Forget about roughly gauging the age from the style or the subject or for that matter anything from writing of any hubbers here, actually I can not guess the age of a person face to face also if he/she is maintaining well.
   Thank you and its a interesting question:-)

   replyreport
   1. 70

      Anna Havenposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Thankyou dghbrh. You are right;  it is hard to tell a lot of the time 

      replyreport
6. 63

   Jynzlyposted 11 years ago

   Apparently. Most seasoned and aged writers use wisdom and real life experiments, and experiences in their writings...the younger ones are mostly theoretical and basically based on the findings of their research.

   replyreport
   1. 70

      Anna Havenposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Interesting theory. Thankyou for taking the time to answer Jynzly

      replyreport
   2. 63

      Jynzlyposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I'm speaking as Professor for College students for more than  20 years. In just one look I will know what age bracket the writer is. Sophistication has nothing to do with it; and am not just being theoretical...it's a professional observation.

      replyreport
   3. 70

      Anna Havenposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Thankyou for clarifying that Jynzly.
      In that case it would seem that there is futher evidence to suggest that an experienced reader maybe able to pinpoint a writer's age.

      replyreport
7. 59

   Grace-Wolf-30posted 11 years ago

   Very interesting question. I think though, that the answer is no, because even if they style, genre and subject of writing might point to a particular age group, it doesn't mean that the writer is within that age group.

   replyreport
   1. 70

      Anna Havenposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Thankyou Grace-Wolf-30.
      Someone had said earlier that a writer could adapt their style and language to the age group of their target audience.
      So it seems you could be right.
      Anna

      replyreport
8. 0

   ctbrown7posted 11 years ago

   Some yes, some no. Even older writers may be unsophisticated in their style and approach.

   replyreport
   1. 70

      Anna Havenposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Thankyou very much for answering ctbrown7.

      replyreport
9. 0

   Kevina Oyatedorposted 11 years ago

   I think it depends on the material they write, but some people wirte a variety of things so you never can guess.

   replyreport
   1. 70

      Anna Havenposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Thankyou very much Kevina Oyatedor. The subject matter does seem revealing at times but sometimes not.
      Anna

      replyreport
10. 0

    sheilamyersposted 11 years ago

    I don't think I'd be able to guess. Some teenagers are very mature for their age and much more knowledgeable about some subjects than people twice their age. On the other hand, I know adults who have act and write like kids.

    replyreport
    1. 70

       Anna Havenposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       Very true Sheilamyers Thankyou for reading and answering.

       replyreport