Education, crime, work and employment are topics that often involve young people, as seen in the following two writing tasks in real tests:
“Young people are leaving their homes from rural areas to study or work in the cities. What are the reasons? Do the advantages of this development outweigh its disadvantages? “
“In some countries young people have little leisure time and are under a lot of pressure to work hard on their studies. What do you think are the causes of this? What solutions can you suggest?“
The phrase ‘young people’ appears in the titles, and it’s likely that this group will be mentioned repeatedly in response to the task. So, what are some alternative words for ‘young people’ that can help showcase your vocabulary range? Below, I’ve listed 10 commonly used terms from reputable media sources to refer to ‘young people’ for your reference.
'Young People' Alternatives: A Table View
| Alternative | Examples (with Source) |
|---|---|
| Youth | 1. "The youth unemployment rate has been steadily increasing." (BBC News) |
| 2. "Programs aimed at empowering the youth have shown promising results." (The Guardian) | |
| Adolescents | 1. "The health risks faced by adolescents today are unprecedented." (The Lancet) |
| 2. "Mental health disorders are common among adolescents." (WHO Report) | |
| Teenagers | 1. "More teenagers are turning to social media for news." (The New York Times) |
| 2. "Obesity among teenagers is a growing concern worldwide." (The Guardian) | |
| Young adults | 1. "Young adults are facing higher levels of stress than previous generations." (The Washington Post) |
| 2. "Housing costs are pricing many young adults out of the market." (BBC) | |
| The younger generation | 1. "The climate crisis is mobilizing the younger generation." (Reuters) |
| 2. "The younger generation has a different approach to work-life balance." (The Independent) | |
| Millennials | 1. "Many millennials are choosing to delay major life decisions like buying homes." (The Financial Times) |
| 2. "The economy has shifted the financial priorities of millennials." (Forbes) | |
| Gen Z | 1. "Gen Z is emerging as a powerful consumer force." (The Economist) |
| 2. "Brands are adapting their marketing strategies to appeal to Gen Z." (Harvard Business Review) | |
| Youngsters | 1. "Youngsters are increasingly interested in coding and robotics." (The Guardian) |
| 2. "Football academies are nurturing youngsters into future stars." (BBC Sport) | |
| Youths | 1. "The government introduced initiatives to help youths enter the workforce." (The Independent) |
| 2. "Several youths were recognized for their volunteer efforts." (Reuters) | |
| Juveniles | 1. "There’s been a rise in juvenile crime in certain urban areas." (The New York Times) |
| 2. "The juvenile justice system needs reform to better support rehabilitation." (BBC News) |
Reminder for Contextual Precision
When replacing “young people,” it’s important to consider the context, as some terms have established collocations. For example, “juvenile crime” is a legal term with specific connotations, so replacing “juvenile” with a more general term like “youth” or “Gen Z” could weaken the precision of your writing. Similarly, using “Gen Z” is highly relevant when discussing technology and modern trends, but it might not be appropriate in all contexts where a more general term like “youth” or “young adults” fits better. Therefore, it’s essential to choose your substitutions carefully by taking the context into account to ensure precision and maintain the intended meaning.
