she owes

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "she owes" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating that someone has a debt or obligation to another person, whether financial or in terms of gratitude or responsibility. Example: "She owes me twenty dollars for the concert tickets I bought for her."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I feel that she owes me respect.

The Guardian - Books

"I think she owes me one," Sorenstam said.

The New York Times - Sports

She estimates that she owes $40,000 in medical bills.

The New York Times

The bank says she owes them more than £345,000.

The Guardian

She doesn't feel she owes black people anything.

The New York Times

Providence Hogan should repay the money she stole from her daughter's school, the money she owes in taxes and the money she owes in rent.

The New York Times

By her account, she owes the credit card company, not the debt collector.

The New York Times

She owes something — many things — to the Velvet Underground, but without that band's urbane grit.

The New York Times - Arts

She owes her induction into the snail realm to an epiphany.

The New York Times - Food

"She's had a bit of a resurgence lately; she owes it all to Helen Mirren.

The Economist

Yes, she owes a lot to Ohad Naharin, having spent three years in his Batsheva Ensemble.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "she owes" in financial contexts, specify the amount and currency for clarity. For example, "She owes $500 USD."

Common error

Avoid using "she owes to" when "she owes" is sufficient. "She owes money to the bank" is acceptable, but "she owes the bank" is more concise.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "she owes" primarily functions as a declarative statement indicating a debt or obligation that a female subject has to another party. It uses a subject-verb construction to express this relationship, with "she" as the subject and "owes" as the verb. Ludwig's examples confirm this usage across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

72%

Formal & Business

15%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Science

1%

Reference

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "she owes" is a common and grammatically sound way to indicate that a woman has a debt or obligation. According to Ludwig, this can encompass financial debts, moral responsibilities, or feelings of gratitude. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is used in diverse contexts, predominantly in news and media, and its register is generally neutral, making it suitable for a wide range of situations. When using the phrase, ensure clarity by specifying the nature and amount of the debt and avoid redundant phrasing. "She owes" maintains its correctness and usability across varied situations, providing a straightforward way to express indebtedness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

she has a debt to

A more direct synonym for "she owes" focusing on the debt itself.

she is in debt to

Replaces "owes" with a more formal expression of indebtedness.

she is obligated to

Substitutes "owes" with a term emphasizing a moral or legal duty.

she must repay

Focuses on the action of paying back what is owed.

she is beholden to

Emphasizes a sense of dependence or obligation for a favor received.

she needs to return

Highlights the act of giving something back that was borrowed or is due.

she is responsible for

Highlights the responsibility aspect of the obligation.

she has to give back

Replaces "owes" with a simpler, more informal expression of returning something.

she is liable to

Emphasizes the legal aspect of owing something, often money.

she should recompense

A more formal term for making amends or repaying a debt.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "she owes"?

You can use alternatives like "she is indebted to", "she is obligated to", or "she has a debt to" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "she owes to me"?

While "she owes me" is generally preferred and more concise, "she owes that to me" can be used to emphasize a non-monetary debt or obligation. However, simply using "she owes me" is often clearer.

How to use "she owes" in a sentence?

You can use "she owes" to indicate a financial debt (e.g., "She owes the bank money") or a debt of gratitude (e.g., "She owes her success to her mentor"). Ensure the context clarifies what is owed.

What is the difference between "she owes" and "she is owed"?

"She owes" means she has a debt or obligation. "She is owed" means someone has a debt or obligation to her. For example, "She owes him money" versus "She is owed money by him".