she was assumed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "she was assumed" is not correct in standard written English.
It is unclear and lacks context, as "assumed" typically requires a subject that is doing the assuming. Example: "In the meeting, it was mentioned that she was assumed to be the new team leader."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

The church has not ruled on whether the Virgin Mary died before she was assumed into heaven.

The New York Times

Yaqoob, a former councillor in Birmingham and a part-time psychotherapist, revealed that she was assumed to share Galloway's sentiments.

The Guardian

She was assumed to be sleeping at her table at the outlet in Kowloon Bay last month, while other diners ate their meals around her.

Independent

Nevertheless, Melinda somehow managed to steer clear of any suspicion, and after Donald's defection, she was assumed to be so entirely innocent she was not even interrogated.

The Guardian - Books

The Catholic Church teaches that the Virgin Mary was also conceived without sin to carry Jesus (the "Immaculate Conception" applies to hers, not his) and that she was "assumed" into heaven at the end of her life.

The Washington Post

She was assumed to have been abducted by the Syrian authorities; massive organizing in her support began on Facebook and Twitter.

Johns Hopkins University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

If she was assuming it was similar to hers she would have been massively overburdened.

The Guardian

Ms. McCaskill said she was assuming no position — honorary or otherwise — with Ready for Hillary.

The New York Times

When Sarah Robb O'Hagan agreed to take over Gatorade in 2008, she thought she was assuming leadership of an iconic brand that had grown a little tired.

Harvard Business Review

She can't know what her students are feeling unless she was assuming, as she obviously was, that they would be feeling exactly what she felt.

Huffington Post

Sure, a gal might date around when young, but once she starts a family, she is assumed to crave stability.

The New York Times - Science

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "she was assumed", ensure the sentence clearly indicates who made the assumption. For example, "She was assumed by her colleagues to be the new team leader" provides clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "she was assumed" without specifying who is doing the assuming. A sentence like "She was assumed to be sleeping" lacks clarity; specify who made that assumption (e.g., "She was assumed by the staff to be sleeping").

Linguistic Context

The phrase "she was assumed" functions as a passive construction, where the subject receives the action of assuming. However, its effectiveness depends heavily on the context, as it often requires additional information to clarify who is doing the assuming. As pointed out by Ludwig AI, the phrase can lack context.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while "she was assumed" is grammatically possible, Ludwig AI notes that the phrase often lacks sufficient context and clarity. It functions as a passive construction to convey an assumption made about a female subject, but it's crucial to specify who is doing the assuming to avoid ambiguity. Related phrases like "it was presumed she was" or "she was believed to be" can sometimes provide greater clarity. The register is neutral, spanning across news, academic, and general contexts. When using this phrase, ensure the sentence clearly indicates the source of the assumption.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was presumed she was

Focuses on the presumption made about her, changing the subject and verb agreement.

she was believed to be

Emphasizes the belief surrounding her identity or status.

she was thought to be

Highlights the thought or perception of her.

she was considered

Implies a more formal evaluation or judgment about her.

people assumed she was

Specifies that the assumption was made by a group of people.

it was understood that she was

Suggests a general understanding or agreement about her.

she was taken for

Indicates a misidentification or mistaken assumption about her.

she was identified as

Suggests a formal or official identification.

she was regarded as

Implies a high level of esteem or reputation.

she was deemed to be

Emphasizes a formal judgment or decision about her.

FAQs

How can I use the phrase "she was assumed" correctly in a sentence?

To use "she was assumed" correctly, clearly indicate who made the assumption. For instance, "she was assumed by her peers to be the most qualified candidate" specifies who did the assuming.

What are some alternatives to "she was assumed" that provide more clarity?

Alternatives such as "it was presumed she was", "she was believed to be", or "people assumed she was" can offer greater clarity depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to start a sentence with "she was assumed"?

While grammatically possible, starting a sentence with "she was assumed" can sound awkward. Rephrasing to specify the subject doing the assuming typically results in a clearer and more effective sentence.

What's the difference between "she was assumed" and "she was presumed"?

"She was presumed" often implies a legal or formal context where something is taken to be true unless proven otherwise. "She was assumed" is more general and simply indicates someone made an assumption about her.