she was working

USAGE SUMMARY

The sentence "she was working" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use the phrase in any context when you want to indicate that someone was busy doing some kind of work, whether that's a hobby, a job, or a task. For example: "When I saw her, she was working on a painting for the local art contest."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

She was working.

The New Yorker

She was working in a massage parlor.

The New York Times - Books

She was working against the clock.

The New York Times

She was working on the eighties.

The New Yorker

She was working on the ship.

The New Yorker

Besides, she was working in New Jersey.

The New York Times

And she was working the register.

The New York Times

She was working for a large corporation.

The New York Times

Within a week, she was working.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

She was working the flight that evening.

The New York Times

She was working three, four jobs.

The Guardian - Music

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To add more context and improve your writing make sure to add specific information about what kind of activity the person was carrying out.

Common error

Avoid simply stating "she was working" without providing any context about what type of work she was doing. Vague descriptions lack impact and do not offer the reader a clear understanding of the situation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "she was working" primarily functions as a declarative statement describing an ongoing action in the past. Ludwig AI supports this interpretation by providing numerous examples where it is used to indicate someone's engagement in work-related activities.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Science

4%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "she was working" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase to indicate that a female individual was actively engaged in work at a specific point in the past. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is versatile and appears frequently across various contexts, particularly in News & Media. To enhance clarity, it is advisable to specify the type of work being performed. While the phrase itself is neutral in tone, its usage can be tailored to fit various communication needs. Related alternatives include phrases such as "she was employed", or "she was on duty", each offering a slightly different nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

she was actively working

Adds emphasis on the act of working as opposed to being idle.

she was employed

Emphasizes the state of being hired or contracted for work.

she was busy with work

Highlights that the person was occupied or engaged in work-related activities.

she had a job

Focuses more on the state of having employment rather than the act of working.

she held a position

More formal and focuses on her role or title within an organization.

she was on duty

Highlights the fact that she was actively performing her assigned tasks.

she was occupied with her duties

Implies a sense of obligation and responsibility in her work.

she was toiling

Implies hard or continuous work, adding a sense of difficulty.

she was engaged in labor

More formal and highlights the effort or exertion involved in her work.

she was in the middle of a task

Shifts focus to the activity being performed, irrespective of whether it is paid.

FAQs

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

Use "she was working" to describe a past action when someone was engaged in a job or task. For instance, "She was working late at the office to meet the deadline".

What are some alternatives to "she was working"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "she was employed", "she had a job", or "she was on duty".

Is it correct to say "she is working" instead of "she was working"?

Yes, both are grammatically correct, but they refer to different time frames. "She is working" refers to the present, while "she was working" refers to the past.

What is the difference between "she was working" and "she worked"?

"She was working" implies a continuous action in the past, while "she worked" implies a completed action or general fact about her employment history.