as she smiled

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "as she smiled" is grammatically correct and commonly used in written English.
It can be used as an adverbial phrase to describe the timing or action accompanying a verb. Example: As she smiled, she delivered her speech with confidence and grace.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

40 human-written examples

First, her heels disappeared as she smiled weakly at Ms. Couric, who stood next to her on solid ground.

The New York Times

Her cheek tensed as she smiled.

The New Yorker

"As soon as she smiled I was a goner".

The New York Times

She started giving out hugs, her eyes crinkling as she smiled.

The New Yorker

Ms. Lopez periodically looked his way as she smiled through sunny sound bites.

The New York Times

"I don't know," she said, her dimples reappearing as she smiled.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

16 human-written examples

As she smiles, the audio track blares out The Kinks' "You Really Got Me," a song suggesting a reversal of everything we have just seen throughout the episode.

The New York Times

And as she smiles slightly, I believe her.

BBC

In another shot, the No Doubt frontwoman looks up at Shelton as she smiles, his hands still around her waist. .

Huffington Post

In the photo, Rutler's hand is placed on Aguilera's growing belly as she smiles for the camera.

Huffington Post

That's 1/6th of the population in America," as she smiles humbly, she would add, "Oh, and please join us for our Facebook party next week.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "as she smiled" to smoothly integrate a character's emotional state or reaction into the description of an ongoing event, creating a richer and more engaging narrative.

Common error

Avoid ambiguity by ensuring the clause introduced by "as she smiled" is closely associated with the subject performing the smiling action. Misplacing it can lead to unintended or humorous interpretations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as she smiled" functions as an adverbial clause of time, modifying the main clause by indicating when or while something else occurred. Ludwig AI confirms this usage through numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "as she smiled" functions as an adverbial clause of time, providing context and emotional nuance to a narrative. Ludwig AI validates its grammatical correctness and frequent usage across various reputable sources, including news media, business publications, and scientific articles. It maintains a neutral register, making it suitable for diverse writing contexts. To enhance clarity, ensure the phrase is closely linked to the subject performing the action of smiling. Common alternatives include ""with a smile on her face"" and ""smiling, she"". Overall, "as she smiled" is a valuable tool for descriptive writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

smiling, she

A more concise way to convey the same information, using a present participle.

with a smile on her face

Focuses on the physical manifestation of the smile, rather than the action of smiling itself.

her face lit up with a smile

Emphasizes the visual impact of the smile, suggesting happiness or joy.

as a smile crossed her face

Focuses on the smile as a fleeting expression, briefly illuminating her features.

with a smiling expression

Emphasizes the sustained nature of the smile, suggesting a generally cheerful disposition.

a smile appeared on her lips

Highlights the emergence of the smile, often implying a subtle or gradual change in expression.

as she grinned

Uses "grinned" as a more emphatic or broader type of smile, suggesting amusement or delight.

her smile evident

Highlights the smile as an obvious or noticeable feature of her expression.

while beaming

Implies a particularly radiant and enthusiastic smile.

her face breaking into a smile

Emphasizes the sudden and expressive nature of the smile.

FAQs

How can I use "as she smiled" in a sentence?

Use "as she smiled" to describe an action happening simultaneously with a smile, for example: As she smiled, she extended her hand in greeting.

What phrases are similar to "as she smiled"?

Similar phrases include "with a smile on her face", "smiling, she", or "a smile appeared on her lips" depending on the desired emphasis.

Is it correct to say "while she smiled" instead of "as she smiled"?

Both "as she smiled" and "while she smiled" are grammatically correct and can often be used interchangeably, but "as" can also imply a causal relationship, whereas "while" simply indicates simultaneous timing.

What's the difference between "she smiled" and "as she smiled"?

"She smiled" is a simple statement of fact. "As she smiled" introduces a clause that connects the act of smiling to another action or event, providing context or explanation.