she was still

USAGE SUMMARY

"she was still" is a perfectly fine and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to convey that someone was in a particular state for some extended period of time, either recently or in the past. For example: "Although they had been arguing for an hour, she was still calm and composed."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

She was still there.

The New Yorker

She was still alive.

The New York Times

She was still sceptical.

The Guardian - Opinion

"She was still upset".

The New York Times

She was still beautiful.

The New Yorker

She was still in shock.

The New York Times

She was still strong & alive.

The New Yorker

"But she was still pharaoh".

The New Yorker

She was still half asleep.

The New Yorker

Whether she was still breathing.

The New York Times

She was still the head.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "she was still", ensure the context clearly defines the initial state or action so the reader understands what is being continued.

Common error

Avoid using "she was still" when the timeframe is too short or lacks a clear starting point. This can confuse the reader about the duration of the state being described.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "she was still" functions as a declarative statement indicating the continuation of a state or action in the past. Ludwig examples confirm its common usage in describing persistent conditions. It links a subject ("she") with a state of being ("was") modified by the adverb "still", emphasizing duration.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "she was still" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase that indicates the continuation of a state or action in the past. As confirmed by Ludwig, this phrase is most commonly found in News & Media contexts. When writing, use "she was still" to emphasize the duration of a state, and ensure there's a clear context for the continuation. Avoid using it when the timeframe is too short or lacks a defined starting point. Alternatives like "she remained" or "she continued to be" can offer nuanced variations. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase is perfectly fine in written English to convey a state for some extended period of time.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

she stayed

Highlights the act of remaining in a particular condition or state

she remained

Replaces "was still" with a single verb emphasizing persistence of a state.

she was yet

A more concise way to express the idea of continuing to be in a state.

she continued to be

Emphasizes the continuation of a state or condition.

she kept being

Simple way to express the continuing nature of an attribute

she yet was

Inverts the word order for emphasis, sounding slightly more archaic.

she persevered in being

Highlights persistence and effort in maintaining a state.

she had been still

Changes the tense to past perfect, emphasizing a state that existed before another point in the past.

she was at the time

Specifies a time frame, suggesting a situation existing during a specific period.

she persisted in her

Indicates a continued action or state, focusing on her actions.

FAQs

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

You can use "she was still" to indicate a continuing state or action. For example, "Even after the argument, "she was still" angry" shows that her anger persisted.

What are some alternatives to "she was still"?

Alternatives include "she remained", "she continued to be", or "she yet was", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is "she was still" grammatically correct?

Yes, "she was still" is grammatically correct. It follows standard English sentence structure and is widely used in writing and speech.

How does the meaning change if I use "she is still" instead of "she was still"?

Using "she is still" indicates that the state continues to the present moment, while "she was still" indicates that the state continued at a specific point in the past, but may or may not continue now.