Kirk Mahoney . com

I heard this earlier today.

Problem:
What follows the preposition does not refer to a past event or time.

Explanation:
I heard (quote) “She’s been competing since she’s been fifteen years old.” (unquote) on the Fox News Channel program “Fox & Friends” this morning.

The host was introducing Katie Stam, the latest winner of the Miss America contest.

I suspect that the host’s statement was a gaffe, but the statement is still worth reviewing.

The preposition “since” should be followed by a reference to a fixed, earlier point in time because “since” means between a past event or time and the present.

(Quote) “she’s been fifteen years old” (unquote), which is equivalent to (quote) “she has been fifteen years old” (unquote), does not directly refer to a past event or time, so it should not follow “since”.

In contrast, (quote) “she was fifteen years old” (unquote) does directly refer to a past event or time. This gives us the solution.

Solution:
“She’s been competing since she was fifteen years old.”