she started crying

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "she started crying" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a moment when someone begins to cry, often in response to an emotional situation. Example: "When she heard the news, she started crying uncontrollably."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

She started crying.

The New Yorker

"She started crying," he said.

The New Yorker

Then she started crying.

The New Yorker

She was so happy she started crying.

Independent

She started crying, then refused to enter.

The New York Times - Sports

Then she started crying and talking.

The New York Times

"She opened it," he told me, "and she started crying.

The New York Times - Magazine

She started crying and I couldn't handle those emotions.

The Guardian

"When she saw me she started crying," he says.

The Guardian

I'd earlier been in a cafe when she started crying.

The Guardian - Opinion

But suddenly her happiness disappeared and she started crying.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "she started crying" when you want to clearly indicate the beginning of a crying episode. To vary your writing, consider synonyms such as "she began to weep" or "she burst into tears".

Common error

Instead of saying "she was emotional", be specific. "She started crying" provides a clearer picture of her emotional state.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "she started crying" functions as a declarative statement, expressing an action. It serves to narrate a specific moment when someone began to cry, as evidenced by numerous examples in Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Wiki

1%

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "she started crying" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe the onset of tears. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's widely used in various contexts, especially in news and media, to depict emotional responses. While alternatives like "she began to weep" or "she burst into tears" exist, "she started crying" offers a straightforward and clear way to convey the beginning of a crying episode. It is important to be specific when describing the reason or context of the emotional response, avoiding vague descriptions of emotional states.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

she burst into tears

Emphasizes the sudden, uncontrollable nature of the crying.

she broke down in tears

Implies a complete emotional collapse, expressed through crying.

she sobbed uncontrollably

Highlights the intensity and lack of control in her crying.

she began to weep

Replaces "crying" with the more formal "weep", suggesting a quiet, controlled expression of sorrow.

she dissolved into tears

Similar to "broke down", but suggests a more gradual and overwhelming emotional release.

she couldn't hold back the tears

Focuses on the inability to suppress the emotional response.

tears began to flow

Shifts focus from the act of crying to the physical manifestation of tears.

she welled up with tears

Suggests the initial stage of crying, where tears gather but do not yet fall.

she teared up

Indicates a milder form of crying, where eyes fill with tears but crying doesn't fully commence.

she was overcome with emotion

Describes the emotional state leading to tears, rather than the crying itself.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to "she started crying"?

You can use alternatives like "she began to weep", "she burst into tears", or "she teared up" depending on the intensity of the emotion.

Is it grammatically correct to say "she started crying"?

Yes, "she started crying" is grammatically correct. The verb "start" is followed by a gerund (crying) to indicate the beginning of the action.

What's the difference between "she started crying" and "she began crying"?

While both phrases are very similar, "she started crying" might imply a more sudden onset, while "she began crying" can suggest a more gradual process. However, they are often used interchangeably.

How can I use "she started crying" in a sentence?

You can use "she started crying" to describe someone's reaction to an event or situation. For example, "When she heard the news, "she started crying" because she was overwhelmed with sadness."