she would often

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "she would often" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a habitual action or behavior that occurs frequently in the past. Example: "She would often visit her grandmother on weekends to spend time together."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

She would often write all night.

The Guardian

She would often tell me how good they were.

The New York Times

"The church keeps me in business," she would often say.

The Guardian

Except it wasn't, as she would often lengthily point out.

The Guardian - Books

"She would often say that she wanted to kill herself.

The Guardian

She would often call by on her nights off.

The Guardian - Books

She would often hold fiery pep talks on her porch.

The New York Times

She would often work through several nights without sleep.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"Mr Jack," she would often say to me, "my English is not good".

The Guardian

If she came to town, she would often work on prints at Two Palms.

The New Yorker

She would often grumble about her love life, and Mr. Berkowitz was flummoxed.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "she would often" to describe repeated actions or habits in the past. This construction is particularly useful in narrative writing to depict character behavior or recurring events. For instance, "She would often spend her afternoons reading in the park."

Common error

While "she would often" is grammatically correct, avoid overusing it in formal or academic writing. Opt for more concise alternatives like "she frequently" or "she regularly" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "she would often" functions as an auxiliary verb phrase used to indicate a recurring action or habitual behavior in the past. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and commonly used. This is supported by numerous examples across various sources.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

79%

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Science

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "she would often" is a grammatically sound and widely used construction to describe habitual actions in the past. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's suitable for various contexts, although it's more common in news, media and informal settings. When aiming for greater formality, consider alternatives like "she frequently" or "she regularly". Keep in mind that "she would often" implies a recurring action, distinct from "she used to", which indicates a discontinued habit. By understanding these nuances, you can effectively use "she would often" to enrich your writing and convey the intended meaning with precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

she frequently did

Replaces "would often" with "frequently did", emphasizing the regularity of the action.

she regularly did

Substitutes "would often" with "regularly did", highlighting the consistent nature of the behavior.

she habitually did

Substitutes "would often" with "habitually did", stressing the ingrained nature of the behavior.

she generally did

Replaces "would often" with "generally did", indicating that the action was a common occurrence, but not necessarily a fixed habit.

she was prone to

Changes "would often" to "was prone to", indicating a tendency towards a particular action.

it was her habit to

Replaces "she would often" with "it was her habit to", focusing on the habitual aspect of the action.

she had a tendency to

Replaces "she would often" with "she had a tendency to", suggesting an inclination towards a specific behavior.

she was in the habit of

Substitutes "would often" with "was in the habit of", emphasizing the established routine.

she was wont to

Replaces "would often" with "was wont to", which is a more formal and archaic way of expressing a habitual action.

she was accustomed to

Changes "would often" to "was accustomed to", highlighting the familiarity and comfort with the action.

FAQs

How can I use "she would often" in a sentence?

Use "she would often" to describe a repeated action or habit in the past. For example, "She would often visit her grandmother after school" indicates a recurring event.

What are some alternatives to "she would often"?

You can use alternatives such as "she frequently", "she regularly", or "she habitually" depending on the context.

Is "she would often" formal or informal?

"She would often" is generally considered neutral in tone and suitable for most writing contexts. However, in very formal writing, consider using more concise alternatives.

What's the difference between "she would often" and "she used to"?

"She would often" describes a repeated action or habit, while "she used to" implies a past habit that no longer occurs. For example, "She would often play the piano" suggests she played it frequently, whereas "She used to play the piano" implies she no longer does.