She was noted for taking other writers to task for lapses in grammar and for frequently including mention of her cat, Edith, in her columns.

Young was born in Dayton, Ohio on October 4, 1912, to artist Harry W. and Isabel Gilbert McPherson.

She graduated from Dayton's Steele High School in 1930 and received a bachelor's degree (1934) and a Master's (1936) from Oberlin College.

[2] After receiving her degree in English literature from Oberlin College in 1934, Young applied for a job at the Dayton Journal, who told her "We don't hire women!

[3] Young taught English, German, Latin and journalism for more than thirty years at Wilbur Wright and then High School, both in Dayton.

[3][6][4] She was noted for "tak(ing) others to task for grammatical lapses" in her columns;[1][7] in an obituary on the Op-Ed page, the Dayton Daily News said "she'll correct God himself if he doesn't use the possessive with his gerunds.