When I was in my teens vs When I was a teenager

Both phrases are correct and commonly used to refer to the time when someone was between the ages of 13 and 19. They can be used interchangeably depending on personal preference or the context of the sentence.

Last updated: April 12, 2024 • 180 views

When I was in my teens

This phrase is correct and commonly used to refer to the period of someone's life when they were between 13 and 19 years old.

This phrase is used to indicate the time during which someone was a teenager. It is a casual and colloquial way of expressing this period of life.

Examples:

When I was in my teens, I used to spend a lot of time with my friends.
I learned how to drive when I was in my teens.
In my teens, I was really into playing video games.
She started learning to play the guitar when she was in her teens.
When I was in my teens, I had a part-time job at a local cafe.

Show examples from the web [+]

"When I was in my teens and in my early 20s, I used to go camping a lot." Is it grammatically correct to repeat "in my" twice in this ...
222 Likes, 34 Comments - Nika Diwa (@nika.diwa) on Instagram: “When I was in my teens and early twenties, I didn't realize the magnitude of my worth.
When I was in my teens I fell in love with New York, the grit of TV cops Kojak and Baretta. Then Bob De Niro in “Taxi driver” and a crush on the sweet baby…
Jan 10, 2019 ... When I was in my teens, I remember the day I chose to be above average. I thought it might bring me more popularity and I could be part of ...
My Hip: When I was in my teens, I had a bike accident that left me with nearly constant pain in my hip. Since chiropractic had helped with my neck pain and ...
Apr 17, 2016 ... When I was in my teens, I couldn't wait to build stuff in wood shop at school and enjoyed watching my house being built.

Alternatives:

when I was a teenager
during my teenage years
in my adolescence
as a teen
in my youth

When I was a teenager

This phrase is correct and commonly used to refer to the period of someone's life when they were between 13 and 19 years old.

This phrase is a more formal way of expressing the time during which someone was a teenager. It is suitable for both informal and formal contexts.

Examples:

When I was a teenager, I used to go hiking with my family.
She wrote her first novel when she was a teenager.
In my teenage years, I was really interested in astronomy.
He started volunteering at a local shelter when he was a teenager.
When I was a teenager, I had a part-time job at a bookstore.

Show examples from the web [+]

When i was a teenager Lyrics: It was all so clear / When I was a teenager / Living for the weekend / Smoke a cigarette, no fear! / I didn't need a ...
When I was a teenager, I asked my dad to teach me to play golf because I was a daddy's girl and wanted to spend time with him & his mates. I'm grateful.
Jan 31, 2020 ... Learn how to use the Spanish sentence "Cuando era adolescente, yo tocaba la batería." ("When I was a teenager, I played the drums.

Alternatives:

when I was in my teens
during my teenage years
in my adolescence
as a teen
in my youth

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