before she

USAGE SUMMARY

"before she" is a grammatically correct phrase and can be used in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that an action or event occurred prior to another action or event involving a woman. Example: "Before she left for work, Sarah made sure to feed the cat." This sentence conveys that Sarah fed the cat first, and then left for work.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"There was confusion before," she said.

The New York Times

"Did you feel it, before?" she asked.

The New Yorker

"I was married once before," she said.

The New Yorker

"Haven't you run before?" she asked.

Independent

"I've seen it before," she said.

The New Yorker

"I've never been here before," she said.

The New Yorker

"I'd never seen that before," she said.

The New Yorker

"I'd never stabbed myself before," she said.

The New York Times

'The day before,' she laughs.

The Guardian

"It happened before!" she said.

The New Yorker

"I had seen it before," she says.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "before she" to clearly establish the chronological order of events, making sure the subject of the second clause is 'she' or a pronoun referring to the same female individual.

Common error

Avoid ambiguity by ensuring the clause introduced by "before she" clearly modifies the intended subject. Misplacing the modifier can lead to confusion about who performed the action.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "before she" functions as a prepositional phrase introducing a subordinate clause that specifies the timing of an event in relation to an action or state involving a female subject. Ludwig shows examples where it connects events in a temporal sequence.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "before she" is a grammatically sound phrase employed to denote the timing of events relative to a female subject's actions. As Ludwig highlights, it frequently appears in news, science, and formal business contexts to express the chronological order. To use this phrase effectively, ensure that the subsequent clause refers explicitly to the same female subject and avoids ambiguity. Alternatives such as "prior to her" or "earlier than her" can introduce variety, although "before she" remains an accepted standard expression. By understanding these factors, you can use the phrase with confidence, enhancing the clarity and precision of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

just before she

Emphasizes the short time frame between two actions

earlier than her

Simple alternative to indicate a temporal precedence.

prior to her

Uses more formal vocabulary to indicate the timing before a female subject's action.

previous to her

Emphasizes the order of events, stating something came earlier for her.

ahead of her

Focuses on the position in time, indicating something happened sooner than her action.

in advance of her

Stresses the preparation or anticipation before her action.

until she

Shifts focus slightly to the endpoint, 'she' doing something marks the conclusion of an event.

leading up to her

Highlights events that build up to her subsequent action.

the moment before her

Highlights immediate precedence of an action

on the eve of her

Used to emphasize the imminence of an important event.

FAQs

How can I use "before she" in a sentence?

Use "before she" to indicate that an action happened prior to another action performed by a female subject. For example, "Before she left, she locked the door."

What are some alternatives to "before she"?

Alternatives include phrases like "prior to her", "previous to her", or "earlier than her", depending on the desired level of formality and emphasis.

Is it correct to say "prior to she" instead of "before she"?

No, "prior to she" is grammatically incorrect. The correct phrasing is "prior to her". "Before she" is also grammatically correct.

What's the difference between "before she" and "after she"?

"Before she" indicates that something happened preceding an action by her, while "after she" indicates that something happened following an action by her. They establish opposite temporal relationships.