she was away

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "she was away" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone was not present at a particular time or location. Example: "When I called her, she was away on vacation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

While she was away, the magazine closed.

The New York Times

When she was away, she missed them.

The New York Times

She was away on business more often.

The New York Times

He said she was away on business.

The New York Times - Magazine

But she was away on vacation.

The New York Times - Health

They texted several times while she was away.

The New York Times

While she was away, her daughter filled her shoes.

The New York Times

She was away from her parents for about 15 minutes.

The Guardian

She called to ask Leonard to feed her cats while she was away.

The New Yorker

It had already scampered around her house hunting for her cats while she was away.

The New York Times

While she was away, he noted, "I miss her like food".

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "she was away" to clearly indicate someone's absence from a specific location or event. It is suitable for both formal and informal contexts.

Common error

Avoid assuming the length of her absence when using the phrase "she was away". Specify the duration if it's relevant to the context. For example, instead of just saying "She was away", consider saying "She was away for a week".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "she was away" functions as a clause element indicating a state of absence. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a grammatically correct way to express that a female subject was not present at a specific location or time. The examples show its use in diverse scenarios, like vacation, business trips, or other engagements.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Wiki

5%

Science

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "she was away" is a grammatically correct and versatile phrase used to indicate the absence of a female subject from a particular place or event. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is suitable for various contexts, primarily appearing in news and media. It serves to provide context or explanation for someone's absence, as demonstrated by numerous examples. When using this phrase, ensure clarity regarding the duration and reason for the absence if relevant. While there are alternative phrases like "she was out" or "she was absent", "she was away" remains a common and effective choice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

she was absent

Replaces "away" with "absent", focusing on the state of not being present.

she was out

Uses "out" as a more casual synonym for "away", implying she was not at home or the expected location.

she had left

Focuses on the action of leaving, indicating she was no longer present.

she was not present

A more formal way of saying she wasn't there.

she was off

Indicates she was away, often implying a trip or vacation.

she was gone

Emphasizes the state of being absent, often suggesting a longer duration.

she was on leave

Specifically indicates an authorized absence, such as from work or duty.

she was on vacation

Specifies the reason for her absence as a vacation.

she was traveling

Indicates she was away and actively moving from place to place.

she was abroad

Implies she was away in a foreign country.

FAQs

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

You can use "she was away" to indicate that a female person was not present at a particular location or during a specific time. For example, "The package arrived while "she was away" on vacation".

What's a less formal way to say "she was away"?

A less formal way to say "she was away" could be "she was out". This implies that she wasn't at the expected or usual location.

Is it correct to say "she is away" or "she was away"?

The correct tense depends on the context. Use "she is away" for present or future situations, and "she was away" for past situations. For example, "She is away on business this week" versus "She was away last week".

What can I say instead of "she was away" to emphasize the reason for her absence?

To emphasize the reason, use phrases like "she was on vacation", "she was traveling", or "she was on leave", depending on the context.