she was unable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'she was unable' is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it to indicate that a protagonist or character was not able to do something. For example, "She was unable to accept the offer, as it did not meet her standards."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

She was unable to answer.

The Economist

She was unable to eat.

Stanford University

She was unable to speak," he said.

Independent

She was unable to sleep.

The New York Times

She was unable to speak.

The New Yorker

She was unable and unwilling to explain.

The Washington Post

She was unable to cross her legs.

The New York Times - Health

She was unable to attend the services.

The New York Times

But she was unable to comfort him.

The Guardian

Although she was able to handle secretions, she was unable to swallow solids or liquids.

Gastrointestinal Endoscopy

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

[She was] unable to take food.

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "she was unable", consider if a stronger verb like 'failed', 'refused', or 'neglected' might be more precise depending on the reason for the inability.

Common error

Avoid using "she was unable" when "she was unwilling" is more accurate. "Unable" indicates a lack of capacity, while "unwilling" indicates a choice not to act.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "she was unable" functions as a declarative statement indicating a lack of capacity or opportunity. As Ludwig AI confirms, the structure is correct and examples from news, scientific, and academic texts demonstrate its versatility.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

47%

Science

37%

Academia

16%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "she was unable" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase to denote a female subject's lack of capacity or opportunity to perform an action. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is appropriate for written English. It is commonly found in news, scientific, and academic writing. When using this phrase, it's important to ensure that "unable" is not confused with "unwilling", and that a stronger verb is not more accurate. As suggested by Ludwig, similar phrases such as "she couldn't" or "she lacked the ability to" may be considered as alternatives depending on the desired nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

she couldn't

This alternative is a more informal contraction of "she could not", conveying the same meaning.

she lacked the ability to

This phrase emphasizes the absence of a particular skill or capacity.

she was incapable of

This alternative stresses a fundamental inability, often due to inherent limitations.

it was beyond her means to

This suggests that factors outside her control hindered her capabilities.

she found it impossible to

This highlights the degree of difficulty, suggesting it was unachievable.

she did not have the capacity to

This alternative emphasizes a lack of inherent or acquired capacity.

she was prevented from

This shows that someone or something stopped her from doing it.

she was in no position to

Implies she was not in a good situation to.

she wasn't up to

Informal way to suggest she wasn't in good enough condition to do it.

circumstances did not allow her to

External factors made it impossible for her.

FAQs

What does "she was unable" mean?

The phrase "she was unable" means that a female person lacked the capacity, opportunity, or means to do something. It indicates a state of being incapable or prevented from performing a particular action.

How to use "she was unable" in a sentence?

You can use "she was unable" to explain someone's inability to perform an action. For example, "she was unable to attend the meeting due to illness" or "she was unable to speak after the accident".

Which is correct, "she was unable" or "she wasn't able"?

Both "she was unable" and "she wasn't able" are grammatically correct and convey the same meaning. "She wasn't able" is more informal because it uses a contraction. The choice depends on the desired level of formality.

What can I say instead of "she was unable"?

You can use alternatives like "she couldn't", "she lacked the ability to", or "she was incapable of depending on the context".