she was constrained

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "she was constrained" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone who is restricted or limited in their actions, choices, or freedom. Example: "In her role at the company, she was constrained by strict policies that limited her ability to innovate."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

Mrs. Merkel has said she had no choice, since she was constrained by her coalition partners.

The New York Times

The marriage of Sibyl's sister, Isabel, to Humphrey of Toron was forthwith annulled, and she was constrained to marry Conrad.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Judge Sotomayor certainly made no suggestion at the argument that she was constrained by precedent to rule for one party or the other.

The New York Times

A nurse identified only as Colleen indicated to the 911 operator that she was constrained by company policy from administering CPR.

The New York Times

Lindy L. Paull, the committee's chief of staff, said that many details of the episode were fuzzy and that she was constrained by taxpayer confidentiality from identifying the union.

The New York Times

The problem appears to have been torture — the way it was depicted in the movie, which is about the killing of Osama bin Laden, and her insistence that she was constrained in the story she told by the truth, when, in fact, she veered away from it.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

Throughout it all, she's constrained by a thankless role as the brittle, bitchy wife; an uptight Nurse Ratched figure the rebelling Lester can kick against.

The Guardian - Film

Although she is constrained by her terrible marriage, Lila is nothing if not a demon of creativity, whose wildness unleashes the more contained Elena.

The Guardian - Books

According to Strauss and Corbin (1998) "[in grounded theory approach] the researcher does not want to be so steeped in the literature that he or she is constrained and even stifled by it" (p. 49) and has to remain firmly grounded in the data "without any preconceived theory that dictates, prior to the research, 'relevancies' in concepts and hypotheses" (Glaser and Strauss 1967, p. 33).

Language Testing in Asia

But he was constrained by two things.

The New York Times

And sometimes he was constrained by deals.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "she was constrained", ensure that the reason for the constraint is clear in the context. This helps the reader understand why her actions or choices were limited.

Common error

While "she was constrained" is grammatically correct, overuse of passive voice can make your writing sound weak. Consider using active voice when possible to create a more direct and engaging sentence. For instance, instead of "she was constrained by company policy", you could say "company policy constrained her".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "she was constrained" functions as a passive construction, indicating that the subject (she) was acted upon or restricted by an external force or circumstance. Ludwig shows examples where this phrase describes limitations imposed by policies, rules, or physical conditions.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

37%

Encyclopedias

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "she was constrained" is a grammatically correct passive construction used to indicate that a female subject's actions or choices were limited by external factors. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's most commonly found in News & Media and Scientific contexts. While acceptable, writers should be mindful of potential overuse of passive voice and consider active alternatives for more direct writing. Related phrases include "she was restricted", "she was limited", and "she was bound". Remember to clearly state the reason for the constraint in your writing for clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

she was restricted

Emphasizes a limitation placed upon her, similar to being constrained but slightly more direct.

she was limited

Focuses on the boundary or extent of her freedom or ability.

she was bound

Highlights a sense of obligation or being tied to a particular course of action.

she was compelled

Suggests an external force or pressure that influenced her actions.

she was obligated

Implies a sense of duty or responsibility that limited her choices.

she was forced

Indicates a lack of choice and a direct imposition of will.

she had no choice

Highlights the lack of alternatives available to her.

she was under pressure

Focuses on the stress and influence exerted upon her.

she was dictated by

Suggests external control over her actions, decisions or movements.

her hands were tied

A more idiomatic way of saying her actions were limited by someone/something else.

FAQs

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

"She was constrained" indicates that a female subject was restricted or limited in some way. For example, "She was constrained by the rules of the game" or "She was constrained by a lack of resources".

What are some alternatives to "she was constrained"?

Alternatives include "she was restricted", "she was limited", or "she was bound", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to use active or passive voice with "constrained"?

While both active and passive voice are grammatically correct, active voice can often make your writing more direct and engaging. For example, instead of "she was constrained by the rules", you could say "the rules constrained her".

What does it mean when someone says "she was constrained by" something?

It means that her actions, choices, or freedom were limited or restricted due to that particular thing. This could be due to rules, policies, lack of resources, or other external factors.