she was ailing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "she was ailing" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone who is experiencing illness or poor health. Example: "After weeks of feeling unwell, she was ailing and decided to visit the doctor for a check-up."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

A year before her death, I went to see her just after I'd been elected to Congress, and although she was ailing and hadn't recognized any of my saintly brothers, she knew me and said, 'You're as good as anybody,' which is the highest praise I ever got from her.

The New York Times - Magazine

Some neurologists have speculated that she was ailing from a rare metabolic disorder called metachromatic leukodystrophy.

Science Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

But she is ailing, too, having pulled out of tournaments in Mason and Montreal to treat a nagging knee injury.

The New York Times - Sports

Mrs. Saksonova's heart was ailing and she was experiencing shortness of breath.

The New York Times

She stopped only long enough to say through tears that her arms and legs were aching, but that her daughter was ailing and she had to keep moving.

The New York Times

By the time she came along, Britain's economy was ailing and there was an ever-present gloom.

The New Yorker

When her aunt was ailing, Ms. West said, she summoned a priest to her bedside.

The New York Times

"The culture was ailing.

The Economist

By 2008, it was ailing.

The New York Times

Joe Paterno was ailing this week.

The New York Times - Sports

Even so, Schilling was ailing.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "she was ailing", ensure the context clearly indicates who "she" refers to, especially in longer texts, to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "she was ailing" for minor, temporary conditions like a common cold. The phrase suggests a more persistent or significant health issue.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "she was ailing" functions as a descriptive statement, indicating a state of declining or poor health. Ludwig AI validates this usage through examples where it describes a person's condition.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "she was ailing" is a phrase used to describe a female individual experiencing a period of declining or poor health. While grammatically correct and validated by Ludwig AI, its frequency is rare, appearing mainly in news and media contexts. When writing, ensure that the context clearly identifies who "she" refers to and consider the seriousness of the illness, as this phrase is not suitable for minor, temporary conditions. For more formal situations, alternatives that offer greater precision may be more appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

she was unwell

Uses a different adjective to describe her poor health.

she was not well

Employs a negative construction to indicate poor health.

she was in poor health

Emphasizes the state of her health being diminished.

she was suffering from an illness

Specifies the presence of an illness causing her condition.

she was battling an ailment

Suggests a struggle against a specific ailment.

she was afflicted with a disease

Indicates a more serious and prolonged health issue.

her health was declining

Focuses on the progressive deterioration of her health.

she was fading

Uses a metaphorical expression to describe her declining vitality.

she was wasting away

Depicts a severe and visible decline in health and physical condition.

she was sinking fast

Implies a rapid and irreversible decline in her health.

FAQs

What does "she was ailing" mean?

The phrase "she was ailing" means she was experiencing illness or poor health. It implies a state of being unwell for a period of time.

How can I use "she was ailing" in a sentence?

You can use "she was ailing" to describe someone's declining health, for example: "After weeks of feeling unwell, "she was ailing" and decided to visit the doctor."

What can I say instead of "she was ailing"?

You can use alternatives like "she was unwell", "she was not well", or "she was in poor health" depending on the context.

Is "she was ailing" formal or informal?

"She was ailing" is generally considered neutral in register, suitable for both formal and informal contexts, although more formal options like "she was suffering from an illness" might be preferred in certain professional settings.