she was ill

USAGE SUMMARY

"she was ill" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You could use it in a sentence like this: "My Aunt Lucy has been unwell lately; she was ill for the entire weekend."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

She was ill – underweight and exhausted.

The Guardian

She said she was ill.

The New York Times

"She was ill, and they knew it.

The New York Times

She was ill and looked it.

The Guardian

Did she know she was ill?

The Guardian

He bullied her back to life when she was ill.

The New Yorker

Maybe she was ill and had called an ambulance.

The New York Times

Because she was ill she was allowed to stay.

Independent

She sent word to the court that she was ill.

The New York Times

On June 11, she was ill briefly in Caracas, Venezuela.

The Washington Post

She was ill; she had a temperature of 41C.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "she was ill", ensure the context provides sufficient information about the nature or impact of the illness if relevant to the narrative. This can add clarity and depth to your writing.

Common error

While "she was ill" is generally acceptable, consider using more precise medical terminology or formal phrasing like "she suffered from a condition" in academic or professional writing to maintain a higher level of formality.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "she was ill" functions as a statement of condition, indicating that a female subject was experiencing a state of poor health. This is a common way to express sickness or ailment. Ludwig confirms that the phrase is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

15%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Encyclopedias

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "she was ill" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to describe someone's state of poor health. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's correct and readily applicable in various contexts. While primarily found in News & Media, Formal & Business, and Science-related sources, its register remains relatively neutral, suitable for diverse communication needs. For alternatives, consider options like "she was sick" or "she was unwell" depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey. It’s important to provide sufficient context about the illness when relevant to the narrative and be mindful of using more formal terms in professional or academic settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

she was sick

A more direct and common synonym.

she wasn't feeling well

Highlights the subjective feeling of being unwell.

she suffered from an illness

Emphasizes the experience of enduring a specific illness.

she was in poor health

Focuses on her overall health status.

she had a disease

Focuses on the presence of a medical condition.

she had a health problem

A general way to indicate a medical issue.

she was under the weather

An idiomatic expression indicating mild illness.

her health was failing

Indicates a decline in health over time.

she was ailing

A more formal and somewhat old-fashioned term for being ill.

she was laid up

Implies being confined due to illness.

FAQs

What's a simple way to explain why someone didn't attend an event using "she was ill"?

You can simply state: "She couldn't attend the meeting because "she was ill"."

Are "she was ill" and "she was sick" interchangeable?

Yes, "she was sick" is a very close synonym. However, ""she was ill"" might sound slightly more formal in certain contexts. Both are commonly used.

What's the difference between saying "she was ill" and "she was unwell"?

The phrases are very similar. "She was unwell" and ""she was ill"" are nearly interchangeable, with "she was ill" being slightly more common.

How can I provide more detail when saying "she was ill"?

You can add specifics: "She was ill with a severe cold", or "She was ill and had to be hospitalized".