not only did she

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "not only did she" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It is typically used to add emphasis to a statement or to show contrast between two ideas. Example: Not only did she ace her exams, but she also landed a prestigious internship.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Not only did she accept the money, she seemed relieved.

The New Yorker

Not only did she pass, she became a Bowdoin instructor.

The Guardian

Not only did she see it — she posted it on her homepage.

Columbia University

Not only did she make it -- she finished in eighth place.

The New York Times

Not only did she accept, but she also wanted to elope.

The New York Times

Not only did she fulfil these requirements admirably, but she established herself as a compelling presence.

The Guardian - Film

Not only did she not win the gold, but did not win silver or bronze, either.

The New York Times - Sports

Not only did she oversee torture, but she also sought to cover it up.

The Washington Post

Not only did she record and analyze their responses, she tailored subsequent tests according to their feedback.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Not only did she feed great artists, she was a predecessor of Julia Child.

The New York Times - Food

Not only did she win the Oscar, but Ms. Fonda's voice also mysteriously lowered.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "not only did she", ensure that the second part of the sentence ('but she also...') logically follows and amplifies the first.

Common error

Avoid grammatical imbalance: ensure that the 'but also' clause mirrors the structure of the 'not only' clause. For instance, 'Not only did she sing, but also dancing' is incorrect. Correct it to: 'Not only did she sing, but she also danced'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "not only did she" functions as an introductory element in a sentence to emphasize that a subject (she) performed an action in addition to something else, as evidenced by Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Academia

8%

Science

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "not only did she" is a grammatically correct and very common introductory phrase used to emphasize two related actions or qualities of a female subject. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase serves to highlight and reinforce the impact of these actions when presented together. It is most frequently found in news and media sources, with occasional use in academic and scientific writing. While the phrase maintains a neutral register, it is crucial to ensure grammatical parallelism in the subsequent clauses to avoid errors. Remember that alternatives like "she did more than just" and "in addition to that, she" can be used to express similar ideas with slightly different emphasis. Numerous authoritative sources, including The New York Times and The Guardian, demonstrate its widespread acceptance and use.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

she not only succeeded in, but

Highlights both the initial success and the further achievement.

she not only did

Reorders the phrase, placing "she" at the beginning for a slightly different emphasis.

she did also

Simple structure inversion, emphasizes "also"

she did more than just

Emphasizes the additional action or quality beyond the initial one.

in addition to that, she

Adds the information as a separate, additional point.

besides that, she also

Highlights the second action as an extra, unexpected outcome.

furthermore, she

Introduces the second action as a reinforcing point.

moreover, she

Similar to 'furthermore', adding an additional piece of information.

she even

Highlights the unexpectedness or surprising nature of the second action.

she went as far as to

Implies that the second action was an extreme or unexpected step.

FAQs

How to use "not only did she" in a sentence?

Use "not only did she" to emphasize two related actions or qualities performed by a female subject. For example, "Not only did she win the race, but she also broke the record."

What can I say instead of "not only did she"?

You can use alternatives like "she did more than just", "in addition to that, she", or "besides that, she also" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "not only did she" or "not only she did"?

"Not only did she" is the grammatically correct form. Inverting the auxiliary verb 'did' before the subject 'she' is necessary for proper sentence structure with 'not only' at the beginning of the sentence.

What's the difference between "not only did she" and "she not only"?

"Not only did she" is used for emphasis at the beginning of a sentence, while "she not only" is used within a sentence to emphasize that she did something in addition to something else. Example: "She not only sings but also dances." vs. "Not only did she sing, but she also danced."