she exchanged vows

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "she exchanged vows" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it in the context of a wedding or commitment ceremony. Example: "During the ceremony, she exchanged vows with her partner." Alternative expressions include "she made vows" and "she took vows."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Cathy McElrath Renna owns the public relations firm Renna Communications with Leah McElrath Renna, with whom she exchanged vows in a Manhattan religious ceremony in 2003.

The New York Times - Food

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Hynie, a former backup singer for Brown, fought with the estate for years after the singer's lawyers said their marriage was annulled because she was still married to another man when she and Brown exchanged vows.

The Guardian - Music

Lucinda Williams — whose poet father met Hank Williams the month before the singer died and Ms. Williams was born — felt such an emotional connection to her selection, "I'm So Happy I Found You," that she sang it immediately before she and her husband exchanged vows at their onstage wedding in 2009.

The New York Times - Arts

Ms. Bryant, who was assigned to the 42nd Precinct station house in the Bronx, had testified that she was mocked and harassed by other officers and her supervisors after she and another officer, Marilyn Trapanotto, exchanged vows in Central Park in 1997.

The New York Times

She has autographs from celebrities who quietly exchanged vows before her and once danced and sang with a 40-person wedding party from England.

The New York Times

She proposed four times before he finally exchanged vows beneath a broad fig tree at the camp.

Los Angeles Times

When they exchanged vows in Yakima two years later, she wore red-and-white baseball shoes to go with her white wedding dress.

The New York Times

When she came to, apparently possessed by Ezili Freda, she took Mr. Laroche's hand and nibbled on his ear coquettishly before the happy couple exchanged vows in French.

The New York Times

Stepping even further back, she concluded: "He stood up in front of family and friends and a priest on a beach and exchanged vows with me.

The New York Times

They exchanged vows under giant pinwheels.

The New York Times

They exchanged vows at a wedding in July before the marriage was legal.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure that the context clearly involves a partner or a witness, as the word 'exchanged' implies a bilateral or social action.

Common error

Avoid using the plural 'vows' without context if you mean she entered a convent; in that specific religious context, 'she took her vows' is the standard idiomatic expression. "she exchanged vows" almost exclusively refers to a marriage or a commitment ceremony between two people.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "she exchanged vows" functions as a declarative clause that describes a specific action within a narrative. According to Ludwig AI, it is a standard way to report the verbal component of a wedding ceremony, often used as the main predicate of a sentence.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

82%

Wiki

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Academia

1%

Social Media

1%

Science

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "she exchanged vows" is a highly effective and grammatically correct phrase used to describe the pivotal moment of a wedding or commitment ceremony. While the exact phrasing appears less frequently in Ludwig than broader terms like "she got married", it is the preferred choice for reputable news outlets when providing a detailed account of a ceremony. Ludwig AI confirms its status as a correct and sophisticated expression. Writers should favor this phrase when they wish to highlight the reciprocal nature of the promises made, ensuring a formal and polished tone in their descriptions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

she said her vows

Uses the simpler verb 'said' instead of 'exchanged', focusing on the individual utterance.

she made her vows

Focuses on the creation of the promise rather than the mutual exchange.

she wed

A more concise and slightly more formal or literary way to say she got married.

she took her marriage vows

Adds the adjective 'marriage' for specific clarity regarding the ceremony type.

she was married

Describes the resulting state or the event in the passive voice.

she tied the knot

Uses a common idiom to describe the act of getting married in a more casual tone.

she pledged her love

Focuses on the emotional content of the vows rather than the formal act itself.

she affirmed her commitment

A more modern or secular way to describe the formalization of a relationship.

she got married

The most common and informal way to describe the event.

she entered into marriage

A legalistic or highly formal phrasing describing the change in status.

FAQs

What does it mean when she exchanged vows?

It means that she participated in a ceremony where she and her partner formally promised their commitment to one another. You can also say "she said her vows" to describe the same action.

Is "she exchanged vows" grammatically correct?

Yes, it is perfectly correct. It follows the standard subject-verb-object structure and is widely used in high-quality publications like The New York Times.

Can I use "she exchanged vows" in a casual email?

While correct, it might feel a bit formal. For a more casual tone, you might prefer "she got married" or "she tied the knot".

What is the difference between "she exchanged vows" and "she was married"?

"she exchanged vows" focuses specifically on the verbal act of the ceremony, whereas "she was married" describes the overall event or her resulting marital status.