increase/decrease with age

meijin

meijin

Senior Member
Tokyo
Japanese
Hi, lets say two prototypes (X and Y) for a new product were tested in a survey, in which the respondents were divided into four age groups. The survey report says the following.

1. The score for X increases with age.

Is it clear that X scored highest in the oldest group, followed by the second-oldest group and so forth? How about if the report wrote the following?

2. The score for Y decreases with age.

Does this mean Y scored highest in the youngest group? In other words, does "with age" always mean "as the age increases"?
 
    • You have to be careful here as it is not clear what 'age' refers to. At first glance, I took it to mean as the prototype got older, even though I knew you had divided your respondents into age groups.

    Usually you would refer to 'age groups'. If you want to use 'age', you need to make it clear it is the respondents' age you are referring to.
     
    So, does "The score for Y decreases with age groups" mean that Y scored highest in the youngest group?
     
    I had wondered about stating it like that when I wrote the earlier reply, but decided against it as 'with age groups' doesn't have a meaning.

    I think the best way might be to keep 'age' but add something to indicate it is the peoples' ages that you mean, such as 'The score for Y decreases with the user's age'. The noun doesnt have to be 'user'; use whatever you think fits best.
    If the score is for something that clearly cannot age in itself, then you don't need to take such precautions: 'The popularity of video games decreases with age'.
     
    Uncle Jack said:
    such as 'The score for Y decreases with the user's age'. The noun doesnt have to be 'user'; use whatever you think fits best.
    If the score is for something that clearly cannot age in itself, then you don't need to take such precautions: 'The popularity of video games decreases with age'.
    Click to expand...
    :thumbsup:
     
    The score for X increases with the age of the respondent.
    (The respondent, the score, and X could all have an age. The scores from two months ago are higher than the scores now.)
     
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