She was told

USAGE SUMMARY

"She was told" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to indicate that someone else informed the subject of something. For example: She was told to arrive at the party by 7pm, but she arrived an hour late.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

She was told that Mme.

The New Yorker

She was told yes.

The New York Times

She was told it could not….

The New Yorker

She was told not to leave Beijing.

The New York Times

She was told no.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

She was told not to.

The New York Times

She was told to stop.

The Washington Post

She was told to wait.

The Guardian

(She was told she couldn't).

The New York Times

"She was told to do that.

The Washington Post

She was told she had smoke inhalation.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid overuse of passive voice in general, as it can make writing sound less direct and engaging.

Common error

Ensure you're using the passive voice intentionally. Avoid mistakenly using "She was told" when an active construction like "Someone told her" would be more appropriate and clearer.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "She was told" is to indicate the reception of information by a female subject. It employs the passive voice, shifting focus from the source of the information to the recipient. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

74%

Science

13%

Academia

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "She was told" is a common and grammatically correct passive voice construction used to indicate that a female subject received information. It's prevalent in news, science, and academic contexts, where the source of information may be secondary to the fact that the information was received. Ludwig AI confirms its usability and provides ample real-world examples. When using this phrase, consider whether the passive voice is the most effective choice, or if an active construction would provide greater clarity or emphasis. Consider alternatives like ""She was informed"" for more formal contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

She was informed

A more formal synonym, emphasizing the act of informing.

Information was given to her

Re-emphasizes the passive voice and shift of focus.

She received information

Focuses on the reception of information rather than the act of telling.

She was advised

Suggests a recommendation or counsel was given.

It was communicated to her

Emphasizes the communication aspect and shift of focus.

She had it explained

Highlights the explanation aspect.

She learned

Highlights the acquisition of knowledge or awareness.

She found out

Implies discovery rather than direct instruction.

She heard

Indicates that the information was received aurally.

Someone told her

Shifts to an active voice construction, specifying that a person was doing the telling.

FAQs

How can I use "She was told" in a sentence?

Use "She was told" to indicate that someone provided information to her. For example, "She was told to wait in the lobby."

What is a more formal alternative to "She was told"?

A more formal alternative is "She was informed". This phrasing is often preferred in professional or academic contexts.

Is it better to use active or passive voice when using "She was told"?

The choice depends on the context. "She was told" is passive, emphasizing that she received information. If the source of the information is important, use the active voice, like "Someone told her".

What are some common mistakes to avoid when using "She was told"?

Avoid using "She was told" when the source of the information is known and important to the context. In such cases, an active voice construction (e.g., "The doctor told her") may be more appropriate.