she was doing

USAGE SUMMARY

'she was doing' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you want to describe an activity or action that was taking place at a certain moment in the past. For example, "Yesterday Mary was doing her homework when I called."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

She was doing fine.

The New Yorker

She was doing Joy.

Independent

Wondered what she was doing".

The New York Times

"She was doing way more.

The New Yorker

She was doing her job.

The New York Times

"I knew she was doing this well".

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

5 human-written examples

She was done playing.

The New York Times - Magazine

She was done with Lisbeth Salander.

The New York Times - Magazine

"She was done with hate.

Los Angeles Times

She was done.

Huffington Post

And she was done.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "she was doing" to describe an action that was in progress at a specific time in the past. For example, "At 8 PM, she was doing her homework."

Common error

Avoid using "she was doing" to describe actions that were fully completed in the past. Instead, use the simple past tense. For example, instead of "She was doing her homework yesterday", say "She did her homework yesterday."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "she was doing" functions primarily as a verb phrase indicating a continuous action in the past. It combines the past continuous form of the verb "to be" with the present participle of the verb "to do", showing that an action was in progress at a specific time. As Ludwig AI suggests, the phrase is both correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

95%

Science

2%

Formal & Business

1%

Less common in

Academia

1%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "she was doing" is a grammatically correct and very common way to describe an ongoing action in the past. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is widely used and understood. Primarily found in news and media, it serves to provide context about what a subject was engaged in at a specific time. While alternative phrases like "she engaged in" or "she performed" may offer more formal options, "she was doing" remains a versatile and acceptable choice for both formal and informal communication. Remember to use it for actions in progress, and not for completed actions, to avoid grammatical errors.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

she engaged in

Replaces "doing" with a more formal verb, emphasizing active involvement.

she performed

Focuses on the execution of a task or activity.

she carried out

Similar to "performed" but can imply a more planned or deliberate action.

she was occupied with

Highlights the state of being busy or engaged in something.

she undertook

Suggests a formal commitment to a task or project.

she was involved in

Emphasizes participation or connection to an activity or situation.

she handled

Focuses on managing or dealing with something.

she executed

Implies a skillful or efficient performance.

she practiced

Refers specifically to repeated actions for improvement.

she worked on

Highlights the effort and time spent on a task.

FAQs

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

"She was doing" describes an action in progress at a specific time in the past. For example, "She was doing her best to help." or "She was doing yoga when I called."

What are some alternatives to "she was doing"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "she engaged in", "she performed", or "she was involved in".

Is it correct to say "she was doing good"?

While "she was doing good" might be understood in some contexts, it's more grammatically correct to say "she was doing well" or "she was doing a good job". Using "well" refers to her performance or state, while "a good job" specifies the quality of her work.

What's the difference between "she was doing" and "she did"?

"She was doing" implies an ongoing action in the past, while "she did" indicates a completed action. For instance, "She was doing her homework" means she was in the process of doing it, while "She did her homework" means she completed it.