he is ill

USAGE SUMMARY

The sentence 'he is ill' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it anytime you want to say that someone is feeling unwell. For example: My friend Bob hasn't been feeling well lately; he is ill.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

45 human-written examples

But the matter is more complicated, since to simulate is not simply to feign: "Someone who feigns an illness can simply go to bed and pretend he is ill.

SEP

He is ill again.

The Guardian

That tells you he is ill.

The Economist

He is ill equipped to handle either.

The New York Times

His aides have said that he is ill.

The New York Times

Aba Zillah nurses her ex-husband when he is ill, he dies.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

13 human-written examples

He is ill-suited to agriculture and reliant on black workers.

The Guardian - Books

As a politician he is ill-disciplined and drawn to absolutist positions, to the right and left of the mainstream.

The Economist

Unaware of the fact that meanings shift, he is ill-equipped to imagine how they might shift again.

The New Yorker

Meanwhile, Mr Khatami's precarious domestic position he is pecked by hawks means that he is ill-placed to coax Mr Bush into friendly gestures.

The Economist

Assured in his office, he is ill-at-ease in matters of raw power, and in the face of public fury.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

If you wish to express uncertainty about someone's illness, use phrases like "he seems ill" or "he may be ill" to avoid stating it as a definitive fact.

Common error

Be careful not to confuse "ill", meaning sick, with "evil", meaning morally bad or wicked. Although they sound similar, their meanings are drastically different.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he is ill" functions as a statement, indicating the state of someone's health. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically correct and suitable for describing someone's condition. The examples provided by Ludwig demonstrate its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

79%

Science

12%

Wiki

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "he is ill" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression for indicating that someone is not in good health. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, and its frequent appearance in news and media sources highlights its broad applicability. While "he is sick" is a close synonym, "he is ill" can sometimes be perceived as slightly more formal. When using this phrase, be mindful of potential confusion with similar-sounding words like "evil" and consider the context to determine the most appropriate level of formality. Remember to differentiate between expressing a current state of illness ("he is ill") and the onset of illness ("he has fallen ill").

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he is sick

Replaces "ill" with a more common synonym, "sick".

he is unwell

Substitutes "ill" with a more formal synonym, "unwell".

he is not well

Uses a negative construction to express a similar meaning.

he has fallen ill

Indicates the beginning of an illness.

he is under the weather

Employs an idiomatic expression to suggest mild illness.

he is ailing

Uses a less common, somewhat formal term for being ill.

he is indisposed

Offers a formal and polite way of saying someone is unavailable due to illness.

he is laid up

Suggests that someone is confined to bed due to illness.

he is in poor health

Indicates a generally unhealthy condition, not necessarily a current illness.

his health is failing

Describes a gradual decline in health.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "he is ill"?

You can use alternatives like "he is sick", "he is unwell", or "he is not well" depending on the context.

Is it more formal to say "he is ill" or "he is sick"?

Generally, "he is ill" is considered slightly more formal than "he is sick", although both are widely accepted.

When should I use "he has fallen ill" instead of "he is ill"?

"He has fallen ill" implies the onset of an illness, suggesting that the illness started recently. "He is ill" simply states the current state of being sick, without specifying when it began.

What is the difference between "he is ill" and "he is indisposed"?

"He is ill" directly states that someone is sick. "He is indisposed" is a more formal and indirect way of saying someone is unavailable, often due to illness, but can also imply other reasons.