as she told it

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "as she told it" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when recounting a story or an account as it was presented by someone else, often implying a degree of subjectivity or personal interpretation. Example: "The events unfolded in a way that was quite different from what I had heard before, as she told it."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

As she told it, he punched her in the face.

The New York Times

The anecdote, as she told it later that day, was vintage Merkel.

The Economist

Whatever the reason, in no part of the story of Sanger's life, as she told it, did she ever mention Wonder Woman.

The New Yorker

As she told it, the man walking to the car on the tarmac in Miami looked really familiar.

The New York Times

She was a pupil of Man Ray, who did not take apprentices, but as she told it, she marched into his studio and announced, "I'm your new student".

The New York Times - Style

This was well enough known that even before opening time, coachloads – as she told it – of visitors were queuing to get in; once in, they made a beeline for the facilities.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

As she tells it, the place is livelier than its name would suggest.

The New York Times

Yet, as she tells it, that was never her plan.

The New York Times

As she tells it, she is not a natural performer.

The New Yorker

As she tells it, her back story comes across as part creation myth, part movie script.

The New York Times - Arts

As she tells it, his pre-eminence makes a certain demented sense.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "as she told it" when you want to emphasize that the information is coming directly from a female's personal account and may be influenced by her perspective.

Common error

Avoid using "as she told it" if you are summarizing or paraphrasing information from multiple sources; this phrase implies a single, direct source.

Linguistic Context

Adverbial phrases like "as she told it" modify verbs or clauses, providing context on how something was communicated. Ludwig AI finds it correct and usable when recounting a story from a female's perspective. These phrases emphasize the source of information and potentially its subjectivity.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "as she told it" is a common and correct phrase used to attribute information or a narrative to a female source, indicating that the account reflects her personal perspective. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English, particularly within News & Media contexts. While maintaining a generally neutral register, alternatives such as "as recounted by her" or "from her perspective" can offer subtle shifts in emphasis. The phrase is best employed when relaying a specific story from a single female source to avoid misattribution.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in her telling

A more concise, literary way of saying "as she told it".

as she described it

Emphasizes the descriptive aspect of her account.

as recounted by her

Formal way of saying 'as told by her'.

from what she related

Similar meaning, but emphasizes the act of relating information.

according to her account

Emphasizes that it's her version of events, which might differ.

her version of the story

Implies there may be other versions, highlighting her subjective take.

the story according to her

Slightly less formal and more direct.

in her own words

Focuses on the verbatim account; implies direct quotation.

from her perspective

Highlights the subjective viewpoint influencing the narrative.

the way she narrated it

Focuses on the style and manner of her telling.

FAQs

What does "as she told it" mean?

It means according to her narration or from her point of view. It indicates that the information being presented is based on a woman's personal account of events.

When is it appropriate to use "as she told it" in writing?

Use it when you are relaying a story or account from a woman's perspective, particularly when you want to highlight that it's her version of events. You could also use alternatives like "in her own words" or "according to her account".

What are some alternative phrases to "as she told it"?

You can use alternatives such as "as recounted by her", "from her perspective", or "her version of the story" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is "as she told it" formal or informal?

It falls somewhere in the middle. While it's not overly formal, it's suitable for news articles, narratives, and general storytelling. More formal alternatives include "as recounted by her".