she was not present

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "she was not present" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that someone was absent from a specific event or location. Example: "During the meeting, she was not present, so we will need to update her on the decisions made."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

31 human-written examples

She was not present at the closing of her Manhattan apartment in late August.

The New York Times

(The judge who presided that day is no longer alive; the court clerk says she was not present).

The New York Times

C1 also told of the day her younger sister allegedly underwent FGM, although she was not present in the room.

The Guardian

As a child, she was not present at the dinners but watched the preparations and imagined the splendor that followed.

The New Yorker

As is common in conservative Islamic practice, she was not present in the room when the marriage certificate was signed by her father and new husband.

The Guardian

She was not present in court on Tuesday, when Pistorius's composure finally broke as he heard graphic details of Reeva's death.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

25 human-written examples

In 2012, she had a chance to relay her concerns about how she was not presented with options as a rape victim to Allen Groves, UVA's dean of students.

Huffington Post

But she wasn't present".If the first person doesn't come by a quarter to nine, the second person can take the castle,"the knight explained.

The New Yorker

She witnessed their 4-0 win over Argentine in the World Cup, but she wasn't present for their 1-0 loss to Spain.

Independent

Ms. Moore was so adept at making her characters' melodramatic existences plausible that in 1988 she was awarded a daytime Emmy, although she wasn't present at the ceremony to pick up her statuette.

The New York Times

The Italian prosecutor who won a conviction against De Sousa, Armando Spataro, told VICE News last year that even if she wasn't present for the rendition, she was still an accessory to the crime because she was aware of it early on.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "she was not present", ensure the context clearly indicates the event or location from which the person was absent. This prevents ambiguity and ensures clarity in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "she was not present" when you actually mean "she was not involved" or "she did not participate". Presence refers to physical location, while involvement refers to action or contribution.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "she was not present" functions as a statement indicating the absence of a female subject from a particular location or event. Ludwig's examples confirm its use in various contexts to denote someone's non-attendance.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Wiki

16%

Science

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "she was not present" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to indicate the absence of a female individual from a specific location or event. As confirmed by Ludwig, this phrase is most frequently found in news and media contexts, with neutral formality. When using this phrase, ensure the context clarifies the location or event, and be mindful of the difference between presence and involvement. Consider alternatives like "she was absent" or "she did not attend" depending on the desired level of formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

she was absent

More concise and direct way of stating someone's absence.

she did not attend

Formal way to indicate non-attendance.

she was not in attendance

Slightly more formal and emphasizes the act of attending.

she wasn't there

Informal and simple way to indicate absence from a location.

she was missing

Implies unexpected absence.

she was a no-show

Informal and emphasizes failure to appear.

her presence was lacking

Focuses on the absence of her presence.

she remained absent

Implies a continued state of being away.

she failed to appear

Formal and emphasizes the act of appearing.

she gave her regrets

Indicates absence with an apology or explanation.

FAQs

What does "she was not present" mean?

The phrase "she was not present" means that a female individual was absent from a particular place, event, or situation. It indicates her physical absence from that specific context.

What can I say instead of "she was not present"?

You can use alternatives like "she was absent", "she did not attend", or "she wasn't there" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "she was not present"?

Yes, "she was not present" is grammatically correct. The phrase follows standard English grammar rules for forming sentences in the past tense.

What's the difference between "she was not present" and "she was not involved"?

While both phrases indicate a lack of participation, "she was not present" refers specifically to physical absence, whereas "she was not involved" suggests a lack of participation or contribution, regardless of physical presence.