is she was

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is she was" is not correct and usable in written English.
It appears to be a grammatical error, as it combines two different verb forms that do not work together in standard English. Example: "I wonder if she was at the party last night."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

That is, she was Henry's grandchild.

The New Yorker

That is, she was eroticized and glamorized.

The New Yorker

But the truth is she was not.

The Guardian - Books

She is – she was mentored by shoe superstar Nicholas Kirkwood.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The truth is she was too scared to turn up.

The Guardian - Opinion

"The thing about my sister is, she was always Number 1 in everything," she said.

The New York Times

Truth is, she was approved by a board controlled by Gov. George E. Pataki.

The New York Times

Her version of the story is, she was much more sophisticated than we were.

The Guardian

"Her famous thing is she was MICKEY COHEN's girlfriend," Mr. Waters said.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

Where is she being held?

The New York Times - Magazine

Only issue is she's still asleep.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "is she was" in formal writing. Choose either "is she" for present tense questions or "was she" for past tense questions.

Common error

Avoid mixing present and past tenses. Using "is she was" incorrectly combines present and past forms. Ensure the tense is consistent throughout your sentence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is she was" represents a grammatical error, arising from the incorrect merging of present and past tense forms. Although Ludwig presents many examples, these instances usually reflect mistakes or non-standard usage, as pointed out by Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "is she was" is a grammatical error resulting from a mix of present and past tenses. Although Ludwig provides examples of its usage, these are generally incorrect. Ludwig AI confirms its non-standard nature. Use "was she" for past tense questions and "is she" for present tense questions to ensure grammatical correctness. While the phrase might appear in informal contexts, avoiding it in formal writing is best. Remember to maintain consistency in tense throughout your sentences.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was she

Inverts the order to form a question in the past tense.

is she

Asks a question in the present tense.

that is, she was

Introduces an explanation or clarification about someone's past state or action.

the truth is, she was

Highlights the reality or fact about a past situation involving someone.

the point is, she was

Emphasizes the main idea or significance regarding someone's past.

all I know is she was

Indicates limited knowledge, focusing on what is known about someone's past.

the irony is, she was

Points out a contrast or unexpected element in a past scenario involving someone.

the fact is, she was

Underscores an actual or verifiable detail concerning someone's past.

what's amazing is she was

Highlights something surprising or remarkable about a past situation.

my guess is she was

Introduces a speculative assessment or assumption concerning someone's past.

FAQs

Why is "is she was" considered grammatically incorrect?

The phrase "is she was" combines present and past tenses incorrectly. The correct options are either "was she" for past tense or "is she" for present tense, depending on the intended meaning.

When should I use "was she" instead of "is she was"?

Use "was she" when asking a question about something in the past. For example: "Was she at the meeting yesterday?"

When should I use "is she" instead of "is she was"?

Use "is she" when asking a question about something in the present. For example: "Is she coming to the party tonight?"

What are some alternatives to "the truth is she was"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "the fact is, she was", "the point is, she was", or "all I know is she was". Each of these emphasizes a slightly different aspect of the statement. Refer to "the fact is she was", "the point is she was" or "all I know is she was".