as he existed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "as he existed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to someone in the context of their state of being or presence at a particular time. Example: "The story unfolds in a world where he was accepted as he existed, without the need for change."

✓ Grammatically correct

Bioethics

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Habermas argues that such enhancements would threaten the child's sense of a self-continuity between himself as he exists as a product of socialization, and himself as he existed in abstraction from this process, prenatally.

Bioethics

Habermas claims that these enhancements would thus impinge on the child's autonomy, because '… the person can only see himself as the author of ascribable actions and the source, if he assumes self-continuity …' 26 between himself as he exists in the world as a socialised being, and himself as he existed before entering the social world.

Bioethics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

As that which makes the world intelligible, God relates to the ground in such a way that the 'real', which takes the form of material nature, is 'in God' but "is not God seen absolutely, i.e. insofar as He exists; for it is only the ground of His existence, it is nature in God; an essence which is inseparable from God, but different from Him" (SW I/7, p. 358).

SEP

Of that son, an 1887 review in The New York Times said: "Such men as he exist, and may be found in Wall Street today.

The New York Times

But all I have to go on is what I know not only about my childhood then but about the child I was as he exists now".

The New Yorker

(Thomas Lynch's set has an appropriately cloister-ish austerity, while Susan Hilferty's costumes look rather like what might be worn at a villa in Chekhov's Russia.) The play is also remarkably vivid in conjuring up the character of Caesar, as he exists through the prisms of the obsessed minds of those who feel they have become his humiliated slaves.

The New York Times

It was as if he existed inside one song and then the next.

The New York Times - Magazine

"It was as if he existed alone, in a vacuum," the grown-up Enrique thinks, "untethered to anything real — sunlight, or grass, or his wife's dwindling embraces".

The New York Times - Books

Graham felt as if he existed not at the front of his eyeballs looking out but at some point behind, so that the facts of the world got in and then had a gap in which to ricochet and echo.

The New Yorker

No one seemed to know what he looked like, exactly where he was from (Ukraine? Tajikistan? Turkmenistan?), or if Viktor Bout was really his name; there was even some doubt as to whether he existed at all.

The New Yorker

His inspirations are, tellingly, not musicians but comedians such as Peter Cook ("because he existed within a 500-yard radius of his home"), Ernie Wise and Tony Hancock ("They just did their own thing").

The Guardian - Music

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use the phrase "as he existed" to draw a contrast between a past state and a present one, especially when discussing changes in identity, behavior, or circumstances.

Common error

Avoid shifting between past and present tenses when using "as he existed". Ensure the surrounding sentences maintain consistent tense to avoid confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as he existed" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to describe a state of being in the past. It typically introduces a comparison or contrast, highlighting how someone or something has changed over time. Ludwig provides real world examples of its usage.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Encyclopedias

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "as he existed" serves to describe a subject's past state, often implying a contrast or transformation from their present condition. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. While it maintains a neutral register suitable for various contexts, its relatively low frequency suggests that more common alternatives may sometimes be preferred. When employing this phrase, ensure tense consistency and leverage it to effectively highlight changes in identity or circumstances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

as he once was

Highlights a change in the person's state from the past to the present.

the way he was back then

Emphasizes a specific time in the past and the person's state during that time.

in his past state

Focuses on the condition or state the person was in at a previous time.

how he used to be

Highlights a contrast between the past and present characteristics of the person.

when he was alive

Specifically refers to the time when the person was living.

at that stage of his life

Focuses on a specific period within the person's life.

during his lifetime

Emphasizes the entire period of the person's life.

in his earlier days

Refers to the earlier part of the person's life.

in his former existence

Suggests a previous life or a significantly different state of being.

in his previous incarnation

Implies a more profound change or transformation from a past state.

FAQs

How can I use "as he existed" in a sentence?

Use "as he existed" to describe a past state of someone, often in contrast to their current state or circumstances. For example, 'He was different from "as he existed" before the accident'.

What are some alternatives to "as he existed"?

You can use alternatives like "in his past state", "when he was alive", or "as he once was" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "as he existed" formal or informal?

"As he existed" is generally considered neutral in formality and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although more direct alternatives may sometimes be preferred in casual conversation.

What's the difference between "as he existed" and "as he was"?

While both phrases refer to a past state, "as he existed" often implies a more significant change or transformation, whereas "as he was" is a more general reference to a past condition. The phrase "as he was" may suggest only a slight difference or a matter of being, and "as he existed" implies that someone's being changed.