he became sick

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "he became sick" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing a change in someone's health status, indicating that they were previously healthy and then fell ill. Example: "After returning from the trip, he became sick and had to take a few days off work."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

36 human-written examples

When he became sick, the response was quick.

The Economist

At a piano lesson before he became sick Soren produced a remarkable 16 seconds of music.

The New York Times - Books

An investigator wanted to know whether he had eaten chicken before he became sick.

The New Yorker

Even before he became sick, however, his life was no bed of roses.

The New York Times

Last year I visited him in the hospital when he became sick.

The New York Times

"For a few months after he became sick, we talked at least once a month.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

19 human-written examples

Within six hours, the man's left arm turned red and began to swell, and he became sicker.

Huffington Post

Unused to exposure to the elements, he becomes sick, and must be taken to the city to be hospitalised.

The Guardian - Film

Thus, the future states of the world for an uninsured individual are (n=w) if remains healthy and (s=w-ell ) if he becomes sick.

SERIEs

They checked in at The Cal for two nights before moving to the Paris-Las Vegas hotel -- so he could say he took her to Paris for their anniversary, he said -- where she became sick.

The New York Times

He had holidayed at many spas, health resorts and sanitariums in his life, but when he really became sick he was sent away from one of the best, the Wienerwald near Vienna, because it was finally confirmed that his tuberculosis had spread to his larynx, and they lacked the facilities to treat him there.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider replacing the phrase with more descriptive language to create a more vivid image. Instead of "He became sick", describe the symptoms and how they affected him.

Common error

While grammatically sound, using "he became sick" repeatedly in formal writing can sound monotonous. Vary your language by using alternatives such as "he contracted an illness" or "he fell ill" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he became sick" functions as a statement describing a change in someone's health status. Ludwig provides numerous examples showing its usage across various contexts to indicate the start of an illness.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Wiki

15%

Science

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

9%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "he became sick" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe the onset of an illness. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and provides numerous real-world examples from various sources. While versatile, it's important to consider the context and formality of your writing when choosing between "he became sick" and its alternatives like "he fell ill" or "he got sick". Pay attention to potential overuse, especially in formal writing, and consider using descriptive language to add depth to your descriptions of illness. This phrase appears most frequently in news and media contexts, with its usage deemed neutral across various communication styles.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he fell ill

Replaces "became sick" with a more formal expression, maintaining the same meaning.

he got sick

Uses a more casual and common alternative to "became sick".

he took ill

Employs a slightly more archaic but still understandable phrase.

he became unwell

Uses a more general term for not being well, similar to being sick.

he was stricken with illness

Adds emphasis on the sudden and negative impact of the illness.

he developed an illness

Highlights the development or onset of an illness.

he succumbed to illness

Implies a loss of resistance and a surrender to the illness.

he contracted a disease

Specifies that the sickness is due to catching a disease.

his health deteriorated

Focuses on the gradual decline of health leading to sickness.

his condition worsened

Describes the progression of an existing condition into a state of sickness.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to "he became sick"?

You can use alternatives like "he fell ill", "he got sick", or "he became unwell", depending on the context and desired level of formality.

Is "he became sick" formal or informal?

The phrase "he became sick" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, alternatives like "he fell ill" might be preferred in more formal writing.

How can I use "he became sick" in a sentence?

You can use "he became sick" to describe the onset of an illness. For example, "After the trip, he became sick and had to stay home from work." You can also add more details about the sickness.

What's the difference between "he became sick" and "he was sick"?

"He became sick" describes the process of falling ill, while "he was sick" describes a state of being ill. For example, "He became sick on Monday" versus "He was sick for a week".