she played a part

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "she played a part" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone was involved in a specific role or contributed to a situation or event. Example: "In the school play, she played a part that required both singing and dancing."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

Ms. Chan said she especially likes knowing that she played a part in designing the scent.

The New York Times

Bob Keeley, a Democrat from Bridgeport who served in the House with Ms. Rell, said she played a part in one of his favorite Capitol moments.

The New York Times

The live performance benefited from Ms. Cuckson's vulnerable yet vibrant physical presence, including some faint, melancholy vocalizations as she played, a part of Nono's score apparently overlooked or ignored by previous interpreters.

The New York Times - Arts

She initially had no intention of casting herself, although she played a part (clothed) in Mr. Oldenburg's "Store Days" in 1962, and (nude) as Manet's Olympia in Robert Morris's "Site" in 1964.

The New York Times - Arts

The first was Wu Huifei, who had great influence from the early 720s until her death in 737; she played a part in the rise of Li Linfu and eventually became involved in unsuccessful plots to make her own eldest son heir to the throne in place of one of the imperial princes.

Britannica

She joined Genentech 's drug development team in 1994, where she played a part in such successful drugs as Herceptin for breast cancer.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

Did she play a part?

Huffington Post

But is she really a villain, or is she playing a part?

Huffington Post

A native of Caserta, near Naples, she insists that she never played a part in Mifsud's murky world.

The Guardian

In that role, she played a key part in crafting media industry legislation including the Cable Television Act of 1992.

Los Angeles Times

Nerves, she said, played a part.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When clarifying the significance of someone's involvement, follow "she played a part" with details specifying the scope and impact of their actions.

Common error

Avoid using "she played a part" in overly passive constructions that obscure agency. Instead of "a decision was played a part in by her", try "she played a part in the decision", which is more direct and emphasizes her active involvement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "she played a part" functions as a verbal phrase indicating that a female subject was involved in or contributed to a particular event, action, or situation. It highlights the subject's participation and influence, as shown in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

63%

Encyclopedias

14%

Wiki

9%

Less common in

Science

9%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "she played a part" is a common and grammatically correct way to indicate that a female subject was involved in or contributed to something. Ludwig AI indicates it is applicable in diverse contexts, especially in news, encyclopedias, wiki and science-related domains. For alternative phrasing, consider options such as "she contributed to" or "she was instrumental in" for more formal contexts. When writing, ensure that you’re using the phrase actively to highlight the subject's direct involvement, avoiding passive constructions that obscure their agency.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

she had a role in

Focuses on the specific role the subject had in a situation.

she contributed to

Focuses on the contribution made by the subject, rather than specifically mentioning a 'part' or role.

she was instrumental in

Emphasizes the importance and influence of the subject's involvement.

she had a hand in

Suggests involvement in a more direct and active way.

she was involved in

A more general way of saying she took part in something.

she participated in

Similar to 'involved', but highlights the action of taking part.

she took part in

Simple, direct way of saying she joined in an event or action.

she was a factor in

Highlights that she was one of the important elements of a process.

she influenced

Emphasizes the impact the person had on something.

she assisted with

Highlights the supportive role the person had.

FAQs

What does it mean when someone says "she played a part"?

Saying "she played a part" means that a woman was involved or contributed to something, taking on a role or having an influence on a particular situation or event.

How can I rephrase "she played a part" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using alternatives such as "she contributed to" or "she was instrumental in", which convey a similar meaning but with a greater emphasis on the significance of the contribution.

Is "she played a part" interchangeable with "she had a role"?

While similar, "she played a part" and "she had a role" have slight nuances. "She had a role" ("she had a role in") often implies a defined or assigned function, whereas "she played a part" suggests a more general involvement or contribution that may not be formally defined.

What's a less formal way to say "she played a part"?

If you want to use a more informal expression, you could say "she had a hand in" or "she was involved in", depending on the context.