she once said

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "she once said" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when reporting someone's words from the past. For example: My grandmother once said, "Every day is a new beginning."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

She once said, 'Defeat?

The New York Times

"I dance for God," she once said.

The New Yorker

"Colour is too noisy," she once said.

The Guardian - Arts

"I love biographies," she once said.

The New York Times - Arts

"It's not my project," she once said.

The New Yorker

"I'm guiltless," she once said to me.

The New Yorker

"I'm a curious person," she once said.

The New York Times

Greys don't interest me, she once said.

The Economist

"It's like being a grandmother in pigtails," she once said.

Columbia University

My God, she once said, I was so bad!

The New York Times

"I hide from being watched by watching," she once said.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Vary your sentence structure by placing "she once said" either before, after, or within the quote for stylistic effect.

Common error

Ensure that the quote you attribute to "she once said" is accurately sourced and reflects the person's actual words.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "she once said" functions as a reporting clause, introducing a quotation or paraphrase of something a female person stated at some point in the past. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

95%

Academia

2%

Formal & Business

1%

Less common in

Wiki

1%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "she once said" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to introduce a past statement made by a woman. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is correct and usable in written English. It commonly appears in journalistic content and is useful for attributing quotations, adding authority, or illustrating points. While versatile, correct attribution is vital when using this phrase. You can use alternatives like "she stated previously" or "as she mentioned before" to vary sentence structure.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

as she mentioned before

Highlights that this has already been brought up, often implying repetition.

on a prior occasion, she said

Highlights that the statement was made during a specific event or situation in the past.

she stated previously

Emphasizes that the statement was made at an earlier time.

she once expressed

Highlights the act of conveying a thought or feeling at some point in the past.

she remarked earlier

Highlights that the statement was a comment or observation made in the past.

in her previous words

Refers back to the speaker's words from an earlier time.

she noted in the past

Focuses on the act of making a note or observation at some point before now.

she related at one time

Focuses on the speaker telling or recounting something.

her past statement indicated

Indicates the statement was made in the past, emphasizing what the statement suggested or showed.

it was once her view that

Emphasizes that this was the speaker's perspective at a specific time.

FAQs

How can I use "she once said" in a sentence?

Use "she once said" to introduce a quote from someone, like this: "She once said, "The best way to predict the future is to create it"". You can also place it after the quote or within it for variety.

What are some alternatives to "she once said"?

You can use alternatives such as "she stated previously", "she remarked earlier", or "as she mentioned before" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to use "she once said"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct. The phrase follows standard English grammar rules and is widely used in both formal and informal contexts.

What's the difference between "she once said" and "she said"?

"She said" is a general way to report someone's words, while "she once said" indicates that the statement was made at some point in the past, often implying it was a unique or significant statement.