she was married

USAGE SUMMARY

"she was married" is a correct and usable sentence in written English.
You can use it whenever you are describing a person's past marital status. For example: "Jane had an interesting life; she was married to a successful businessman at one point."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

She was married there.

The New York Times

She was married twice.

The New York Times - Arts

She was married to me.

The Guardian - Music

She was married to another zoo professional.

Independent

She was married for 63 years.

The New York Times

She was married and divorced twice.

The New York Times - Arts

"She was married to my brother".

The New Yorker

A year later, she was married.

The New Yorker

She was married four times, not six.

The New York Times

She was married now too.

The New Yorker

She was married, divorced & remarried.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing someone's marital history, provide context by including the time frame or the name of the spouse, for example, "She was married for 10 years" or "She was married to John."

Common error

Ensure clarity by specifying the timeframe if there are multiple marriages. For example, instead of just stating "She was married", specify "She was married twice" to avoid confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "she was married" functions as a statement of past marital status. According to Ludwig, it's grammatically correct and widely used. This makes it a straightforward declarative statement about a woman's marital history.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Academia

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Science

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "she was married" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe a past marital status. Ludwig AI confirms its widespread use across various contexts, from news and media to academic writing. When using the phrase, ensure clarity by providing relevant details such as the duration of the marriage or the spouse's name. Alternatives include phrases like "she got married" or "she tied the knot", although the latter is more informal. While the phrase itself is neutral, consider the context and audience to ensure appropriate language.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

she got married

Focuses on the action of getting married rather than the state of being married.

she tied the knot

An idiomatic expression indicating marriage.

she wed

A more formal or literary way of saying she married.

she became a wife

Highlights the transition into the role of a wife.

she was a bride

Focuses on the event of the wedding itself.

she entered into matrimony

A formal way of saying she got married.

she took a husband

Emphasizes her agency in the marriage.

she exchanged vows

Highlights the promises made during the marriage ceremony.

she walked down the aisle

Focuses on a specific part of the wedding ceremony.

she found her life partner

Emphasizes the relationship aspect of marriage.

FAQs

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

You can use "she was married" to describe a past marital status. For example: "Before becoming a CEO, "she was married" and living abroad."

What's the difference between "she was married" and "she got married"?

"She was married" describes the state of being married in the past, while "she got married" describes the action of entering into marriage. The first focuses on the state, the second on the event.

What can I say instead of "she was married" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "she entered into matrimony" or "she took a husband", although these options are less common.

Is it correct to say "she was married with" instead of "she was married to"?

No, the correct preposition to use with "married" when specifying the spouse is "to". You should say "she was married to [spouse's name]" not "she was married with".