she was laughing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "she was laughing" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe someone who is currently or was previously in the act of laughing, often in a narrative or descriptive context. Example: "As the joke was told, she was laughing so hard that tears streamed down her face."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

She was laughing.

The New York Times

Now she was laughing.

The New Yorker

She was laughing and joking".

The New York Times

And she was laughing.

The Guardian - Film

She was laughing her balls off.

The New Yorker

She was laughing and crying.

The New York Times - Arts

She was laughing too hard.

The New Yorker

She was laughing her head off.

The New Yorker

Moments before she was laughing and giggling.

The Guardian

And, as usual, she was laughing.

The New York Times

By this point she was laughing.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "she was laughing" to depict a character's reaction to humor or joy in a narrative. It's a straightforward way to show their emotional state.

Common error

Avoid using "she was laughing" repetitively in close succession. Vary your descriptions by using synonyms like "she chuckled", "she grinned", or describing the physical manifestation of her laughter (e.g., "tears streamed down her face").

Linguistic Context

The phrase "she was laughing" functions as a descriptive element within a narrative. It provides information about a character's emotional state and reaction to a situation. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Academia

1%

Science

1%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "she was laughing" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to describe a female subject's laughter in the past. As highlighted by Ludwig, the phrase is particularly common in News & Media, fulfilling the purpose of adding emotional depth and descriptive detail to narratives. While simple, it’s crucial to avoid overuse by employing synonyms and focusing on the specifics of the laughter itself. The phrase, as shown by Ludwig AI, is a straightforward and effective way to indicate amusement and joy in written English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

she chuckled

Replaces "laughing" with a more subdued form of laughter.

she giggled

Indicates a light, often nervous, laughter.

she roared with laughter

Emphasizes the intensity of the laughter.

she burst into laughter

Focuses on the sudden start of laughing.

she dissolved into laughter

Implies a complete surrender to laughter.

she was in stitches

An idiomatic expression indicating uncontrollable laughter.

she was amused

Indicates a mild form of enjoyment or pleasure.

she found it funny

Highlights the reason for the laughter.

her face broke into a smile

Shifts the focus from laughter to a facial expression of happiness.

she beamed

Replaces laughter with a radiant expression of joy.

FAQs

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

"She was laughing" is typically used within a narrative to describe someone's reaction. For example, "She told a joke, and /she+was+laughing/ at the punchline".

What are some alternatives to "she was laughing"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives such as "she chuckled", "she giggled", or "she roared with laughter".

Is it correct to say "she is laughing" instead of "she was laughing"?

Both are grammatically correct, but they indicate different tenses. "She is laughing" describes an action happening now, while "she was laughing" describes an action that happened in the past.

What's the difference between "she was laughing" and "she laughed"?

"She was laughing" implies a continuous action in the past (past continuous), while "she laughed" is a simple past tense indicating a completed action. The former might suggest the laughter continued for a period of time.