was already married

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was already married" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to someone who was in a marital relationship prior to a specific point in time or event. Example: "She couldn't accept his proposal because he was already married to someone else."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

First, Gérardin was already married.

Independent

(Regrettably, he was already married).

The New York Times - Books

She was already married.

The New York Times - Arts

Vic was already married.

The Guardian - Arts

Manet was already married.

The Washington Post

He was already married.

The New Yorker

Anne was already married, and Marty married someone else.

The New York Times - Magazine

In this case the preacher was already married with kids.

The Guardian - Music

I was already married to an American girl.

The Guardian - Opinion

By the time he qualified as a doctor in 1959, he was already married.

The Economist

What he couldn't do was go through another marriage to Bridey, who was already married.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was already married" to clearly indicate that someone was in a marital relationship before a specific event or time. This avoids ambiguity about their marital status at that point.

Common error

Avoid using "was already married" when you mean "got married shortly after". This phrase indicates a pre-existing marriage, not a recent one.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was already married" functions as a descriptive element within a sentence, providing crucial information about an individual's marital status at a particular time. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is correct and usable in written English. The phrase adds context to the narrative, influencing decisions or relationships.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "was already married" is a common and grammatically correct way to indicate that someone was in a marital relationship before a certain point in time. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable. It's frequently used in news and media, as well as in more informal contexts, to provide background information or explain the context of a situation. Alternatives include "had already tied the knot" or "was previously married", but the original phrase remains a clear and straightforward option. When using this phrase, ensure that you're accurately conveying the timeline of events and that the information is relevant to the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was a married man already

Reorders the words for emphasis on the state of being married.

was at that time married

Adds a temporal marker to specify the time frame.

was married prior to that

Highlights the sequence of events, placing the marriage before the reference point.

was previously married

Focuses on a past marital status, implying a divorce or widowhood.

already had a wife

Specifies the gender of the spouse.

already had a husband

Specifies the gender of the spouse.

had already tied the knot

An idiomatic expression indicating that the marriage had already occurred.

was no longer single

Focuses on the change from being single to married.

had an existing marriage

More formal way of stating that a marriage was in place.

was at the time a spouse

Uses "spouse" instead of "married" for a slightly different nuance.

FAQs

What does "was already married" mean?

The phrase "was already married" indicates that an individual was in a marital relationship before a certain event or time being discussed.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "was already married"?

Use "was already married" when emphasizing a person's marital status at a specific point in time, especially when it affects a decision, relationship, or situation. For example, "He couldn't marry her because he "was already married"."

Are there alternatives to the phrase "was already married"?

Yes, you can use phrases like "had already tied the knot", "was previously married", or "had an existing marriage" depending on the context.

How does "was already married" differ from "got married"?

"Was already married" describes a state of being married before a certain point, whereas "got married" describes the act of entering into marriage. For example, "He "was already married" when they met," versus "They got married last year".