as she sobbed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "as she sobbed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone's emotional state while they are crying, often to convey a sense of sadness or distress in a narrative. Example: "She recounted the story of her loss, her voice trembling as she sobbed."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

21 human-written examples

"Please, I'm begging you not to send me home," she pleaded as she sobbed into her hands.

The New York Times

As she sobbed they returned to Venice.

The New Yorker

He sat quietly as she sobbed.

The New York Times - Health

Mr Goose repeatedly asked Matthews why she was crying as she sobbed throughout giving her evidence.

Independent

As she sobbed, her co-host David Koch continued: "A mother-of-three, is one of the fatalities.

Independent

Peter Ciaccia, the marathon's race director, draped an American flag around Flanagan's shoulders as she sobbed.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

"It's amazing," Milne says in the video, as she sobs in shock and happiness.

Huffington Post

She holds her head in her hands, dragging her fingers desperately through her bleached hair as she sobs into a webcam.

Independent

The butchered fruit isn't a symbolic stand-in for the ruined woman, but the coolness of his appetite for it as she sobs speaks volumes.

The New Yorker

He's hard-headed but emotionally shrewd; a hand on a relative's shoulder as she sobs provides a glimpse of inner depth.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

In his seminal "Lady with a Dog," a rake at a summer holiday resort seduces a pious young wife over a period of weeks, and afterward, as she sobs in bed, he cuts a slice of watermelon.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "as she sobbed" to add emotional depth to a scene, showing a character's vulnerability and distress. It works effectively when you want to emphasize the immediacy and intensity of their reaction.

Common error

Avoid using "as she sobbed" excessively in detached, unemotional narration. Overusing the phrase can make the writing melodramatic or unintentionally humorous. Vary your descriptions of emotional responses.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as she sobbed" functions as an adverbial clause of time, modifying the main clause by indicating when something else occurred. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is used to add descriptive and emotional detail to a narrative.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "as she sobbed" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase, as confirmed by Ludwig AI, primarily found in News & Media contexts. Its function is to add emotion and depth by showing someone crying, often emphasizing immediacy and intensity. When writing, it's best to use this phrase to enhance emotional depth while avoiding overuse that could lead to melodrama. Alternatives such as "while she cried" or "as she wept" can provide variation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

while she was sobbing

Rephrases with a more descriptive tense.

as she wept

Uses a more literary term for crying.

as she broke down in tears

Focuses on the sudden onset of crying.

as tears streamed down her face

Focuses on the physical manifestation of crying.

as she dissolved into tears

Describes a gradual yielding to tears.

crying uncontrollably

Emphasizes the lack of control in her crying.

struggling to contain her tears

Focuses on the effort to suppress crying.

with tears in her eyes

Highlights the presence of tears without explicitly mentioning sobbing.

as she was overcome with emotion

Highlights the emotional state leading to tears.

voice thick with emotion

Indicates crying through vocal expression.

FAQs

What does "as she sobbed" mean?

The phrase "as she sobbed" describes an action occurring simultaneously with someone crying with short, convulsive gasps. It indicates both the act of crying and the manner in which it's happening.

What can I say instead of "as she sobbed"?

You can use alternatives like "while she cried", "as she wept", or "crying uncontrollably" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "as she sobbed"?

Yes, it's grammatically correct. "As" is used as a conjunction to indicate that two actions are happening at the same time: her speaking and her sobbing.

How to use "as she sobbed" in a sentence?

Use "as she sobbed" to show the emotional state during another action, for example: "He held her close as she sobbed", indicating comfort during her emotional distress.