she was in fact

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "she was in fact" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to emphasize the truth or reality of a statement, often in contrast to a misconception or assumption. Example: "Many believed she was just a novice, but she was in fact a seasoned expert in her field."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

She was, in fact, a silent parrot.

The New York Times

She was, in fact, rather cruel.

The Guardian - Opinion

(She was, in fact, Miss Junior Florida).

The New York Times - Magazine

She was, in fact, a nurse.

The Guardian - Books

It took up most of wherever she was, in fact.

The New York Times - Style

She was in fact like her mother, the porter's wife, in her wedding photograph".

The New York Times

"She was in fact the sweetest reptile I have ever encountered," Mr. Astin wrote.

The New York Times

She then made clear she was in fact talking about the family dog.

The Guardian

It did not occur to them that she was in fact not yet a wife".

The New Yorker

We made it clear to the witness that she was, in fact, free to leave.

The New York Times

Subsequent tests, demanded by Ms. Rogers, revealed that she was, in fact, suffering from HER-2.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "she was in fact" to politely correct a misconception or provide additional clarifying information.

Common error

Avoid using "she was in fact" when simply stating obvious or easily inferred information. The phrase is most effective when offering a surprising or clarifying detail, not as a filler. Overusing it can make your writing sound redundant and unnatural.

Linguistic Context

She was in fact" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying the verb and adding emphasis to the statement. It asserts the truth, often correcting a previous misconception or providing clarifying information, as demonstrated in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "she was in fact" is a grammatically sound and versatile adverbial phrase used to emphasize the truth, often correcting a misconception. As shown by Ludwig, it's prevalent in News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business contexts. While "she was in fact" is generally neutral in tone, it’s best to avoid overuse in simple declarations to prevent redundancy. Alternatives include "she actually was" and "she truly was". Understanding these nuances will help you use this phrase effectively in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

she actually was

Replaces "in fact" with "actually" to convey the reality of the situation.

she truly was

Emphasizes the truth of the statement using "truly" instead of "in fact".

she really was

Uses "really" to highlight the genuine nature of the statement.

she legitimately was

Indicates the validity or legitimacy of the statement, replacing "in fact" with "legitimately".

she demonstrably was

Suggests that the statement can be proven or demonstrated to be true.

it turned out she was

Highlights a discovery or revelation about the subject's true state or identity.

the truth was she was

Emphasizes the veracity of the claim as the overriding factor.

the reality was she was

Focuses on what was undeniably the case, presenting it as a matter of factual circumstance.

as a matter of fact she was

Replaces with a longer phrase "as a matter of fact" for more emphasis.

to be precise, she was

Introduces a more accurate or specific statement about the subject's situation.

FAQs

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

Use "she was in fact" to emphasize the truth, often when it contrasts with a previous assumption. For instance, "Everyone thought she was a beginner, but "she was in fact" an experienced professional".

What can I say instead of "she was in fact"?

You can use alternatives like "she actually was", "she truly was", or "she really was" depending on the context.

Is it redundant to use "she was in fact"?

While generally correct, overuse can lead to redundancy. Use the phrase to emphasize a point that might be surprising or contrary to a common belief, not for stating the obvious.

What's the difference between "she was in fact" and "she was actually"?

Both phrases emphasize truth, but "she was actually" often implies a discovery or surprise, while ""she was in fact"" is a more formal way of stating the truth and could feel more assertive.