she muttered to herself

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "she muttered to herself" is correct and commonly used in written English.
You can use this phrase when describing a character's inner thoughts or actions that they are saying to themselves quietly. Example: She sat alone in her room, lost in thought. She muttered to herself, trying to make sense of the complicated situation she found herself in.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

"Lifestyle?" she muttered to herself.

The New York Times

Go back to your share house, she muttered to herself.

The New Yorker

And then she muttered to herself, "God, I hate lending people my knives".

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

But she only muttered to herself, jerking her head spasmodically.

The New York Times - Science

"Do I need these?" Ms. Shak muttered to herself.

The New York Times

That she keeps muttering to herself on the street isn't a good sign.

Independent

"Our dog needs Xanax," she muttered to her husband.

Huffington Post

"Sorry" she muttered to me as we passed each other.

Huffington Post

He might instead have identified the desperate efforts of Bullock's character to return to Earth — "I hate space," she mutters to herself at one point — as the problem, and diagnosed the earthbound fear of space that characterizes the movie as an expression of a larger cultural timorousness.

The New Yorker

He might instead have identified the desperate efforts of Bullock's character to return to Earth—"I hate space," she mutters to herself at one point as the problem, and diagnosed the earthbound fear of space that characterizes the movie as an expression of a larger cultural timorousness.

The New Yorker

She looked angry and estranged, muttering to herself.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "she muttered to herself" to indicate a character's internal thoughts or reactions expressed quietly, often when they are alone or do not intend to be overheard. It's useful for conveying inner turmoil, skepticism, or private commentary.

Common error

Avoid using "she muttered to herself" when the character's speech is intended to be heard by others, even if it's quiet. Use alternatives like "she said quietly" or "she said under her breath" to clarify the intended audience.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "she muttered to herself" functions as a narrative device to reveal a character's internal thoughts or private reactions. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a common and correct usage. The examples show it used in news and media to depict characters in various emotional states.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "she muttered to herself" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to indicate a character's private, quiet speech. According to Ludwig AI, it effectively communicates inner thoughts or reactions, often when the character is alone or doesn't intend to be overheard. While most frequently found in news and media, its neutral register makes it suitable for various contexts. Remember to consider alternative expressions like "she murmured to herself" or "she said under her breath" for nuanced descriptions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

she murmured to herself

Replaces "muttered" with "murmured", indicating a softer, less distinct way of speaking to oneself.

she whispered to herself

Substitutes "muttered" with "whispered", suggesting a very quiet and secretive way of speaking.

she said under her breath

Replaces the entire phrase with a more descriptive expression indicating the quietness of the speech.

she spoke to herself softly

Emphasizes the softness of the speech but retains the directness of addressing oneself.

she mumbled to herself

Uses "mumbled" instead of "muttered", suggesting less clarity in the speech.

she thought aloud, barely audible

Focuses on the act of thinking aloud, with the speech being barely audible.

she soliloquized quietly

Uses a more formal term, "soliloquized", to describe speaking one's thoughts aloud quietly.

she uttered something inaudibly

Replaces the entire phrase with a description of uttering something that can't be heard.

she confided in herself in a low voice

Emphasizes the act of confiding, implying a private and quiet sharing of thoughts.

she mused to herself

Shifts the focus to musing, indicating a thoughtful and quiet reflection expressed aloud.

FAQs

What does it mean when someone "mutters to themselves"?

It usually implies they are speaking quietly, often expressing their thoughts or feelings privately. It can suggest they are thinking aloud or reacting to something internally.

What can I say instead of "she muttered to herself"?

You can use alternatives like "she murmured to herself", "she whispered to herself", or "she said under her breath" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "she muttered to herself"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct and commonly used to describe someone speaking quietly and privately to themselves.

What's the difference between "she muttered" and "she muttered to herself"?

"She muttered" implies she said something quietly, but the recipient may or may not be specified. "She muttered to herself" clarifies that she was speaking only to herself and not intending to be heard by others.