She was explained

USAGE SUMMARY

'She was explained' is not correct.
This sentence does not have a verb, so it is incomplete. To make this sentence complete, you can use it like this: 'She was explained the situation'. This sentence is usable in written English and can be used when you are trying to indicate that someone has been given an explanation about something. For example: 'She was explained the rules of the game before we started playing.'.

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

She was explained that her natural roots, curly and voluminous from her Mexican, Black and Italian background, would never accommodate to Simpson's style.

Huffington Post

If there was one she was explained the objective of the study; if she consented to participation her last date of menstrual period was inquired.

BMC Psychiatry

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

"I need some things," she said after I didn't answer, like she was explaining.

The New Yorker

One sale came when she was explaining Amazon Art to friends at a dinner party.

The New York Times - Arts

She was explaining why it was so hard for the staff to agree on anything.

The New Yorker

"She was explaining that all the cell phones were dead," he told me.

The New Yorker

He says he felt that May herself has reservations about this when she was explaining it.

The Guardian

She was explaining something to us in Spanish.

Vice

She is not just answering; she is explaining.

The New York Times

Here she is explaining her reading philosophy: "To read a great book is a gift.

The New Yorker

"I think she's explaining about wolves in the forest," I say.

The Guardian - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "She was explained". Instead, use clearer and more grammatically correct alternatives such as "The situation was explained to her" or "She received an explanation".

Common error

Don't assume that all verbs can be used in a passive construction with a person as the subject. The verb 'explain' typically requires an object (the thing being explained). A correct passive form focuses on the information: 'The concept was explained to her'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "She was explained" attempts to convey that someone received an explanation. However, it deviates from standard English grammar, where the verb 'explain' requires a direct object specifying the content of the explanation, as noted by Ludwig AI. The examples provided by Ludwig illustrate attempts to use the phrase, but they don't validate its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "She was explained" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase deviates from standard English grammar. Although there are a few examples provided by Ludwig from sources like The New Yorker and Huffington Post, these instances don't validate the phrase's grammatical correctness. Instead, it's advisable to use clearer and more conventional alternatives such as "The situation was explained to her" or "She received an explanation" to ensure effective communication. These alternatives more accurately and clearly convey the intended meaning while adhering to standard grammatical rules.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

The situation was explained to her

Rephrases the sentence to focus on the action of explaining being directed towards her.

An explanation was given to her

Shifts the focus to the explanation itself being given.

She was given an explanation

Similar to 'She received an explanation' but uses 'given' instead.

She received an explanation

Highlights her as the recipient of the explanation.

Someone explained it to her

Uses an active voice, indicating someone performed the act of explaining.

It was explained to her

Uses a passive construction with 'it' as the subject, making the explanation the focal point.

She had the situation explained to her

Emphasizes that she actively had the explanation given to her.

The details were clarified for her

Focuses on the clarification of details rather than a general explanation.

She understood the explanation

Shifts the focus to her understanding of the explanation, implying it was given.

The matter was elucidated for her

Uses a more formal term ('elucidated') for 'explained'.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say that someone received an explanation?

Instead of the grammatically questionable phrase "She was explained", you can use phrases like "the situation was explained to her", "she received an explanation", or "it was explained to her".

Why is "She was explained" considered incorrect?

The verb "explain" generally requires a direct object specifying what was explained. "She" cannot be the direct object of "explain" in a grammatically standard construction. A more correct form would be passive construction that focus on the explanation itself, for example "the situation was explained to her".

Can "explained" be used in a passive construction?

Yes, "explained" can be used in a passive construction, but the subject should be what is being explained, not the person receiving the explanation. For example, "The rules were explained" is correct.

What are some formal alternatives to "She was explained"?

For a more formal tone, consider phrases like "the matter was elucidated for her" or "an explanation was given to her". These options maintain a professional and grammatically sound structure.