By the time she

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "By the time she" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate a specific point in time when something will happen or has happened in relation to a subject, often followed by a verb phrase. Example: "By the time she arrives, the meeting will have already started."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

By the time she returned to London.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

By the time she did, they were in love.

The New Yorker

By the time she finished, she was engaged.

The New Yorker

By the time she was ten, her father was sixty.

The New Yorker

By the time she was 23 she had three children.

The Economist

By the time she arrived at hospital, she was dead.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

By the time she was 22, her husband was dead.

The New York Times

By the time she reached the hospital, she was dead.

The New York Times

By the time she finishes at 2pm she is exhausted.

The Guardian

By the time she turned 17, Seles's life was idyllic.

The New York Times - Sports

By the time she stops, I have 15 missed calls.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "By the time she" to clearly establish a sequence of events, indicating that one action is completed or a state is achieved before another action begins. This helps in creating a sense of progression and timing in your narrative.

Common error

Avoid using "By the time she" when you only want to describe simultaneous actions. This phrase should clearly indicate that one event precedes another, not that they occur at the same moment.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "By the time she" functions as an adverbial phrase introducing a dependent clause. This clause modifies the main clause by specifying a time frame within which an action occurs or a state is reached. As Ludwig AI explains, it is a grammatically correct phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

53%

Academia

27%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Science

2%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "By the time she" is a versatile and grammatically sound construction used to establish a clear temporal sequence. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is considered correct and is widely used in various contexts. Predominantly found in News & Media and Academia, it effectively conveys the idea that an action or state is completed or reached before another event occurs. Writers should use this phrase to create a sense of progression and timing in their narratives, being careful to ensure that the intended sequence of events is clearly communicated.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

By the moment she

Is a more emphatic version of the original phrase, stressing the specific point in time.

Once she

Focuses more on the action that happens immediately after the specified event.

As soon as she

Emphasizes immediacy and swiftness following the event.

When she

Is a more general way to indicate time, without necessarily implying a completion.

Up until she

Highlights the duration leading to an event.

Upon her

Is more formal and emphasizes the moment of the action.

Leading up to when she

Describes the period leading up to a specific event.

Prior to her

Is a more formal way of saying before.

Before she

Indicates something that happens in anticipation of a later event.

In anticipation of her

Focuses on the expectation and preparation for the event.

FAQs

How can I use "By the time she" in a sentence?

Use "By the time she" to indicate that an event occurs before a certain point. For example, "By the time she arrived, the party had already started."

What phrases are similar to "By the time she"?

Alternatives include "Once she", "When she", or "As soon as she", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "By the time she" formal or informal?

"By the time she" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. It is a grammatically correct and widely understood phrase.

How does "By the time she" differ from "When she"?

"By the time she" specifies that an action is completed or a state is achieved before another action begins, while "when she" simply indicates that two events are related in time but doesn't necessarily imply that one is completed before the other.