she has dabbled

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "she has dabbled" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone has engaged in a particular activity or field in a casual or superficial way. Example: "She has dabbled in painting, but she prefers photography as her main artistic outlet."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

She has dabbled in virtual reality.

The New Yorker

She has dabbled with the piano, she has dabbled with the guitar but it is her voice that is her forte".

The Guardian

In practices, she has dabbled with a triple-triple-triple as well.

The New York Times - Sports

Since leaving university, she has dabbled in PR, and now does two days a week for her parents' firm.

Independent

The only time she has dabbled in the law since her brother's release was when the pub had trouble renewing its liquor license.

The New York Times

A native of Iceland, Ms. Torrini must endure her share of Bjork comparisons, especially since she has dabbled in trip-hop and electronica.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

During her Hollywood days, she had dabbled in astrology.

The Guardian

Ms. Lotter said she had dabbled in shamanistic travels, maybe a little witchcraft now and then.

The New York Times

She had dabbled with drawing when young, he said in a recent telephone interview, but now she had an intense all-or-nothing drive to paint.

The New York Times - Health

Her retirement from the stage a year later, aged only 42, found Pauline returning to something she had dabbled in years earlier: composition.

The Guardian - Music

She was a frequent guest on Bill Maher's "Politically Incorrect," telling him on one now notorious occasion that she had "dabbled into witchcraft" and had concluded a date with a "picnic on a satanic altar".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "she has dabbled" to describe a casual or experimental engagement with an activity or subject, indicating a lack of deep commitment or expertise.

Common error

Avoid using "she has dabbled" when describing someone with significant experience or accomplishments in a field; it diminishes their expertise. Instead, use more descriptive terms like "she has mastered" or "she is proficient in".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "she has dabbled" functions as a statement indicating a light or experimental engagement with a particular activity or subject. Ludwig AI confirms this usage across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "she has dabbled" is a phrase used to describe someone's light or experimental involvement in a particular area. Ludwig AI validates its grammatical correctness and usage in various contexts, primarily within news and media. While the phrase is acceptable, it's important to consider the context and choose more descriptive language when describing someone with significant experience or accomplishments. Alternatives include "she has experimented with" or "she has explored", depending on the intended nuance. When used appropriately, "she has dabbled" effectively communicates a casual and non-committal engagement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

she has dabbled around with

Adds "around" to "dabbled", further emphasizing a casual approach.

she has experimented with

Replaces "dabbled" with "experimented", suggesting a more exploratory approach.

she has tried her hand at

Uses an idiomatic expression to convey the act of attempting something new.

she has toyed with

Implies a less serious and more playful engagement.

she has explored

Replaces "dabbled" with "explored", making the engagement sound more formal.

she has sampled

Suggests trying a small amount or variety of something.

she has dipped into

Conveys a brief and shallow involvement.

she has flirted with

Indicates a brief and not very serious involvement.

she has ventured into

Suggests a more exploratory and potentially risky engagement.

she has tinkered with

Implies working with something in an experimental or unskilled manner.

FAQs

How can I use "she has dabbled" in a sentence?

You can use "she has dabbled" to indicate that someone has a casual or superficial involvement in a particular area. For example, "She has dabbled in painting, but her true passion is sculpture."

What's a more formal way to say "she has dabbled"?

If you want to sound more formal, you can use alternatives such as "she has experimented with" or "she has explored", depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "she has dabbled" to describe a professional's experience?

Using "she has dabbled" might downplay someone's professional experience. It's better to use phrases like "she has experience in", or "she has worked in" to acknowledge expertise.

What's the difference between "she has dabbled in" and "she is proficient in"?

"She has dabbled in" suggests a light or occasional engagement, whereas "she is proficient in" indicates skill and expertise.