she defends that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "she defends that" is not correct and sounds awkward in written English.
It is typically used when someone is supporting a specific argument or position, but it lacks clarity without additional context. Example: "In her essay, she defends that the new policy will benefit the community."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

She defends that initial reaction, but spends the entire book worrying away at it.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Nonetheless, she still vigorously defends that system, saying that it has been vital to setting and safeguarding baseline standards for supply-chain workers in poor countries, particularly those with corruption-prone governments and weak unions.

The New York Times

She defended that, by saying: "We didn't know where he was.

The New York Times - Health

Why didn't she defend that at the time if it was not her error?

The Guardian - Sport

She defended that comment, which was made in objecting to a commission move to warn mothers of the dangers of having children sleep in their parents' beds.

The New York Times

She also defended her suggestion that interest groups should search for evidence of a journalist's possible bias, arguing that the Post has "one of the best and most rigorous ethics policies in the country" and that looking into reporters really defends that policy.

Huffington Post

Indeed, I once had a debate about it with her when she was defending that whole Andrea Leadsom (who?) nonsense in the summer.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Friday's news is a blow to the Olympic heptathlon champion as she bids to defend that title in Rio de Janeiro in six months' time.

Independent

In the early days, Betty was fairly easy to manipulate, and though she's always been kind of passive, at this point, she's willing to defend that passivity as a weirdly pro-active stance.

Huffington Post

But she may need to defend that approach to her publisher, who reportedly paid her an advance of $600,000.

Huffington Post

"How do you defend that?" she asked, advising the potential 2016 presidential contender that it wouldn't play well on a national stage.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

For clarity, rephrase using a more direct verb like "supports", "advocates", or "defends it" instead of using "that" as a pronoun.

Common error

Avoid using "that" immediately after "defends" when referring to an idea or concept. It often leads to unclear or grammatically awkward sentences. Instead, use "it" as a direct object, or rephrase to include the specific idea being defended.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "she defends that" functions as a verb phrase where "defends" is the verb and "that" is intended as a pronoun referring to a previously mentioned idea or statement. However, the construction is often considered awkward and less grammatically sound. Ludwig AI confirms this assessment.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "she defends that" appears in various sources, it is generally considered grammatically awkward and lacks clarity. Ludwig AI marks it as not correct. The phrase aims to convey support or justification but is better replaced with clearer alternatives like "she supports that" or "she defends it". Predominantly found in news and media contexts, its infrequent usage and grammatical concerns suggest rephrasing for improved writing quality. Always ensure clarity by specifying what "that" refers to, or opt for more direct constructions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

she stands by that

Replaces "defends" with "stands by", emphasizing unwavering support.

she supports that

Uses "supports" as a more direct synonym for "defends".

she advocates for that

Emphasizes active support and promotion of the idea.

she champions that

Implies strong and enthusiastic defense.

she upholds that

Suggests maintaining or defending a principle or standard.

she justifies that

Focuses on providing reasons to support the idea.

she argues in favor of that

Highlights the act of presenting arguments to support something.

she validates that

Focuses on confirming the correctness of something.

she corroborates that

Implies providing evidence to support a claim.

she vouches for that

Indicates personal assurance or guarantee.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to "she defends that"?

Consider using alternatives like "she supports that", "she advocates for that", or "she defends it" for better clarity.

Is "she defends that" grammatically correct?

While understandable, "she defends that" can sound awkward. It's often better to rephrase for clarity, as the pronoun "that" can be vague. Using Ludwig AI, the phrase is not correct.

How can I use "she defends that" in a sentence more effectively?

To use it effectively, ensure "that" clearly refers to a specific idea or statement. However, consider rewriting the sentence for improved flow, such as "she defends the idea that...".

What's the difference between "she defends that" and "she defends it"?

"She defends it" is more direct and typically clearer, as "it" serves as a pronoun directly replacing a previously mentioned noun. "She defends that" is less common and can sometimes create an awkward sentence structure.