friend of hers

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "friend of hers" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a friend belonging to or associated with a female subject. Example: "She invited a friend of hers to the party, and they had a great time together."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Then a friend of hers took her own life.

The Guardian

A friend of hers turned her on to it, and Hayao Miyazaki films in general.

The Guardian - Books

A friend of hers sent her the article a few months later.

Huffington Post

In fact, according to a friend of hers, Britney Spears credits her father for saving her life.

Forbes

She also said that a friend of hers now puts her mail in a cardboard box.

The New York Times

A friend of hers said that, with her death, democracy has died.

The Economist

In her tweet, she accused me of hitting on her and a friend of hers.

Vice

A friend of hers smuggled it out in the front of her dress.

The New Yorker

One afternoon a man went to her apartment looking for a friend of hers.

The New York Times

She also asks Pam to set her up with a single friend of hers.

Wikipedia

Ask a friend of hers to go shopping with you so you can get her size.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to a specific person, using their name is preferable to "friend of hers" for clarity. For example, instead of "A friend of hers recommended the book", write "Jane recommended the book".

Common error

Avoid using "friend of hers" when the subject's gender is unclear or when it could be confused with someone else's friend. Instead, clarify the relationship: "a friend of Jane's" or "her colleague".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "friend of hers" functions as a possessive construction indicating a friend belonging to a female individual. As Ludwig AI explains, it's grammatically correct and commonly used. Examples from Ludwig show its use in various contexts, emphasizing the relationship between two female individuals.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

13%

Academia

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "friend of hers" is a common and grammatically correct way to refer to a female friend of a female subject. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is usable and correct in written English. It is versatile, appearing in diverse contexts from news and media to academic writing. While concise alternatives like "her friend" exist, "friend of hers" emphasizes that the person is one of potentially many friends. Therefore, always choose the option that better express your intention. The usage analysis indicates its prevalence in neutral registers, making it suitable for various communication scenarios.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a female friend of her own

Emphasizes that the friend is female and belongs specifically to her.

a companion of her own

Replaces "friend" with a more general term, suggesting companionship rather than necessarily close friendship.

someone close to her

Focuses on the emotional connection rather than the specific role.

a pal of hers

More informal and colloquial.

a buddy of hers

Informal alternative to 'friend'.

one of her female acquaintances

More formal and distant, implying a casual relationship rather than a close bond.

one of her confidantes

Implies a deep, trusting friendship.

a close female associate

More professional, suggesting a working relationship rather than a personal one.

a female associate of hers

Formal and impersonal, used in professional contexts.

someone she knew

Very general, indicating familiarity without specifying the nature of the relationship.

FAQs

What does "friend of hers" mean?

The phrase "friend of hers" refers to a friend who is female and associated with or belongs to the female subject being discussed. It indicates a relationship of friendship between the subject and another female person.

What is a more concise way to say "friend of hers"?

A more concise way to say "friend of hers" is "her friend". This option is simpler and often more direct, especially in informal contexts.

Is it grammatically correct to say "friend of her"?

No, "friend of her" is grammatically incorrect. The correct possessive form is "friend of hers", using the possessive pronoun "hers".

When should I use "friend of hers" instead of just "her friend"?

Use "friend of hers" when you want to emphasize that the person is one of many friends, rather than implying she only has one friend. Also use it when the context requires a more formal or detached tone.