body aches

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "body aches" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe general discomfort or pain in various parts of the body, often associated with illness or fatigue. Example: After the long hike, I was left with severe body aches. Alternative expressions include "muscle pain" and "general discomfort."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But her body aches.

The New York Times

Every cell in your body aches.

The Guardian

His body aches; his spirit roars.

The Guardian - Sport

Headache, body aches, and fever: Take acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or aspirin.

Columbia University

headaches, body aches, low energy for 10 days.

University of California, Berkeley

My hands hurt and my body aches," he said.

The Guardian

It can cause this kind of fever and body aches.

The New York Times - Magazine

"Fever, body aches, I just feel horrible," Curry said.

The New York Times - Sports

His body aches were so severe he could not sleep.

The New York Times

But then I got headaches, body aches, nausea.

The New York Times - Health

My body aches in places I never knew I had.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In medical writing, differentiate between "body aches" and localized pain to help readers or patients identify systemic issues.

Common error

Do not use the possessive form "body's aches" when referring to the general medical symptom. While grammatically possible, it sounds unnatural in a clinical or descriptive context compared to the standard noun adjunct form "body aches".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "body aches" functions as a compound noun where "body" acts as a noun adjunct modifying the head noun "aches". According to Ludwig, it is primarily used as a count noun in the plural form to describe a systemic physiological state rather than a single point of pain.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

20%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "body aches" is an indispensable phrase in the English language for describing systemic physical pain. Analysis via Ludwig confirms its ubiquitous presence in high-authority sources, ranging from The New York Times to medical research at Yale University. It is most frequently used to list symptoms of viral infections or to describe the physical toll of labor and stress. While synonyms like "muscle pain" or "myalgia" provide more specificity, "body aches" remains the standard neutral term for general bodily distress. Writers should feel confident using it in both formal medical reports and informal personal narratives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

bodily aches

A more formal and slightly more literary variation of the same concept

muscle pain

Refers specifically to muscular distress rather than generalized system discomfort

physical discomfort

A broader and slightly more formal term for bodily unease

soreness

Often implies pain resulting from physical exertion or injury rather than illness

myalgia

The clinical medical term for muscle pain

malaise

A general feeling of being unwell, often including fatigue and lethargy

systemic pain

Focuses on pain that affects the entire body or multiple systems

flulike symptoms

Categorizes the aches within a specific set of clinical indicators

general stiffness

Describes a lack of mobility or tension rather than acute pain

physical distress

A stronger term often implying a higher level of suffering or urgency

FAQs

What can I say instead of "body aches"?

Depending on your context, you can use terms like "muscle pain", "physical discomfort" or "soreness".

Is it "body aches" or "bodily aches"?

Both are correct, but "body aches" is significantly more common in modern English and medical reporting. You might choose "bodily aches" for a more formal or literary tone.

How do I use "body aches" in a medical sentence?

It is typically used as a direct object or part of a list of symptoms, such as: "The patient reported fever, cough and "body aches"."

What is the difference between "body aches" and "malaise"?

While "body aches" refers specifically to pain, "malaise" is a broader term for a general feeling of unease, weakness or discomfort.