she was great

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "she was great" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express admiration or appreciation for someone's qualities or actions in a past context. Example: "During the presentation, she was great, captivating the audience with her insights and confidence."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

She was great.

The New York Times - Magazine

He'd thought she was great.

The New Yorker

"And she was great.

The Guardian - Film

She was great at marketing.

The New York Times

A. I thought she was great.

The New York Times - Sports

She was great at anything she tried.

The New York Times

We loved having her, she was great.

The New York Times

"She was great, though," Rudin said.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

"She is great.

Independent

She's great".

The New York Times - Arts

She's great, she's great, she's great".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "she was great" to express sincere admiration for someone's past actions or qualities. Ensure the context clearly indicates what you are praising.

Common error

Avoid using "she was great" without providing context. Instead of simply stating that she was great, specify what made her so, such as "she was great at explaining complex topics" to provide more meaningful feedback.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "she was great" functions primarily as a subject complement, where "she" is the subject, "was" is the linking verb, and "great" is the adjective describing the subject. Ludwig AI confirms this usage through its analysis of numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "she was great" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to convey admiration or approval of a woman's past actions or qualities. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is widely used across various contexts, particularly in News & Media, showcasing its versatility. While generally neutral in register, more formal alternatives may be preferable in certain professional settings. When using this phrase, ensure the context is clear to provide specific and meaningful praise. Avoid overuse without specificity to make your feedback more impactful.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

she was wonderful

This highlights the pleasant and delightful nature of her actions or character.

she was excellent

Similar to outstanding, but perhaps a bit more formal.

she was outstanding

This emphasizes that her performance or character was remarkable.

she was remarkable

Highlights that her qualities or actions were particularly noteworthy.

she was superb

A stronger and more emphatic way of saying she was excellent.

she did a great job

This focuses specifically on her performance in a particular task.

she was first-rate

Emphasizes that she was of the highest quality or standard.

she excelled

This phrase focuses on her high level of performance or skill.

she shone

This implies that she stood out and impressed others.

she impressed me

Focuses on the speaker's personal reaction to her performance or qualities.

FAQs

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

You can use alternatives like "she was outstanding", "she excelled", or "she did a great job" depending on the context.

How do I use "she was great" in a sentence?

Use "she was great" to express your positive opinion of someone's performance, skills, or character in a past situation. For example, "She was great during the presentation".

What does it mean when someone says "she was great"?

It generally means that the speaker is expressing admiration or approval of a woman's actions, qualities, or performance in a specific situation that happened in the past.

Is it appropriate to use "she was great" in a formal setting?

While generally acceptable, consider using more formal alternatives like "she was excellent" or "she was superb" in highly formal or professional contexts.