she was unwell

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'she was unwell' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that someone was feeling ill or not in good health. For example, "My colleague, Sally, was unwell today, so she had to stay home from work."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

27 human-written examples

Between episodes in hospital, one of Andrea's main worries was that I would tell her mother that she was unwell.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Betsie Verwoerd, whose husband, HF Verwoerd, was assassinated in 1966, was unable to come because she was unwell.

The Guardian - Opinion

Ms. Gainsbourg underwent successful emergency surgery but remained convinced that she was unwell, continuing to schedule MRI examinations for months after getting a clean bill of health.

The New York Times - Arts

She could not see that she was unwell and was convinced we were trying to harm her, so would not accept medication.

The Guardian

Upon being told that she was unwell, the prophet asked for permission to pay a visit and assist with her recovery.

The Guardian - Opinion

She was unwell during her A-levels and rather than retaking the year at school she decided to do a BTec in health science at her local college.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

33 human-written examples

Shortly afterwards she developed cancer and now, some years later, she is unwell.

The Guardian - Opinion

The mother is old, and since she received this news, she is unwell".

The New York Times

She has no insight into her mental illness and doesn't believe she is unwell.

The Guardian - Opinion

She is unwell again and troubled too greatly by her immediate future.

The Guardian

She is unwell, deeply traumatised, and desperately concerned for her future.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the audience and context when choosing between "she was unwell" and alternatives like "she was sick" or "she was under the weather". "She was unwell" may be preferred in more formal or professional settings.

Common error

While "she was unwell" is grammatically correct, avoid overusing it in casual conversation where simpler alternatives like "she was sick" or "she wasn't feeling well" might sound more natural.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "she was unwell" functions as a descriptive statement, indicating that a female subject was experiencing poor health. According to Ludwig AI, this usage is grammatically correct and common in various contexts. This phrase commonly acts as the predicate of a sentence.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "she was unwell" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to describe a female individual's state of poor health. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase appears frequently in diverse contexts, including news, science, and business. While the phrase has a neutral tone, alternatives like "she was sick" or "she wasn't feeling well" might be more appropriate for casual settings. Remember to tailor your language to your audience and context, and avoid overusing "she was unwell" in informal conversations. By understanding the phrase's nuances, you can ensure clear and effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

she was sick

A simple and direct synonym for being unwell.

she was not well

A more general and slightly more formal way of saying someone was unwell.

she felt sick

This alternative focuses on the subjective feeling of illness.

she was under the weather

A more idiomatic and less direct way of saying someone was slightly unwell.

she was suffering from an illness

Specifies that the person is experiencing a specific illness.

she was ailing

Implies a more prolonged or chronic state of poor health.

she was in poor health

Focuses on the overall state of someone's health being diminished.

she was indisposed

A formal way to indicate that someone is temporarily unable to perform their usual functions due to illness.

she was laid up

Suggests that someone was confined to bed or home due to illness.

her health was failing

Indicates a gradual decline in someone's health.

FAQs

What's a more formal way to say "she was unwell"?

A more formal way to say "she was unwell" could be "she was indisposed" or "she was not well", depending on the context.

How do I use "she was unwell" in a sentence?

You can use "she was unwell" to describe someone's state of health. For example, "She was unwell, so she stayed home from work."

What's the difference between "she was unwell" and "she was sick"?

While "she was unwell" and "she was sick" are often interchangeable, "she was unwell" can sound slightly more formal. "She was sick" is generally more common in informal settings.

What can I say instead of "she was unwell" to indicate a serious condition?

To indicate a more serious condition, you could say "her health was failing" or "she was suffering from an illness", depending on the context.