during her life

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "during her life" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to events, experiences, or circumstances that occurred while a person was alive. Example: "She accomplished many great things during her life, leaving a lasting impact on her community."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

The myth built during her life.

The Guardian - Music

How much has she changed during her life?

The Guardian - Books

It is interesting that during her life Middlemarch wasn't George Eliot's greatest achievement.

The Guardian - Books

His grandmother held passports from four countries during her life without ever leaving Istria, he said.

The New York Times - Food

She was a generous donor to religious and social organizations during her life.

The New York Times

She courageously faced a number of serious health problems during her life and triumphed over them.

The New York Times

She was operated on more than 30 times during her life.

The Guardian

Scandal about Elizabeth was current to some degree during her life and increased after it ended.

The Guardian - Books

Her earliest biographer proclaimed her a saint, and miracles were reported during her life and at her tomb.

Encyclopedia Britannica

She made no effort to sell her work, and had only one show during her life Knoedler's, 1916.

The New Yorker

"She allowed them to be published during her life, and they reveal a bit about her in her own words.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "during her life", ensure the context clearly indicates that you are referring to a period when the person was alive, not after their death. For example, "During her life, she traveled extensively" is clear, while "Her estate was managed during her life" might be confusing.

Common error

Avoid using "during her life" when the context implies something happening after death. Instead of saying "Awards were given in her name during her life", specify "Awards were established in her name during her life but given posthumously" to prevent misinterpretation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "during her life" functions as a prepositional phrase that modifies a verb or noun, indicating when something occurred. It specifies that an action or state took place within the period of someone's existence. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and common usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Science

22%

Wiki

11%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "during her life" is a grammatically sound and commonly used prepositional phrase that serves to specify the timing of events or characteristics within a person's lifetime. According to Ludwig AI, it is correct and versatile, fitting into various contexts, from biographical narratives to scientific reports. While alternatives such as "in her lifetime" or "throughout her life" exist, the choice often depends on stylistic preference. For clarity, it's crucial to ensure the context prevents misinterpretation by avoiding uses that could imply events occurring post-mortem. The frequent use of this phrase in news media and academic sources underscores its broad applicability and neutrality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in her lifetime

Replaces the preposition "during" with "in" and uses the noun "lifetime" instead of "life".

throughout her life

Uses "throughout" to emphasize the continuous aspect of the period.

while she was alive

Rephrases using a clause structure, specifying the state of being alive.

in her living years

Uses a more formal tone with "living years" to describe the period of life.

during the course of her life

Adds "the course of" to emphasize the progression through life.

in her days

Uses "days" as a more poetic or old-fashioned way to refer to her life.

all her life

Emphasizes the entirety of her life.

for the duration of her life

Emphasizes the full period of her existence.

as long as she lived

A clause that focuses on the period she remained alive.

in the time that she lived

Emphasizes the era or period in which she existed.

FAQs

How can I use "during her life" in a sentence?

Use "during her life" to describe events, achievements, or circumstances that occurred while someone was alive. For instance, "During her life, she was a dedicated volunteer" indicates her volunteer work happened before her death.

What are some alternatives to saying "during her life"?

You can use alternatives like "in her lifetime", "throughout her life", or "while she was alive" to convey a similar meaning.

Is there a difference between "during her life" and "after her death"?

"During her life" refers to events that occurred when the person was alive, while "after her death" refers to events that occurred once the person has passed away. It's crucial to use the correct phrase to avoid ambiguity.

Which is more formal, "during her life" or "in her lifetime"?

"In her lifetime" might be perceived as slightly more formal, but both phrases are generally acceptable in most contexts. The choice depends on the overall tone and style of your writing.