when she was done

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "when she was done" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate the completion of an action or task performed by a female subject in a narrative or descriptive context. Example: "When she was done with her homework, she decided to watch a movie."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

When she was done, we just looked at each other.

The New York Times

When she was done, her face appeared blank.

The New York Times

When she was done, she was proud of her achievement.

The Guardian - Music

When she was done, he planted a kiss on her cheek.

The New York Times

It's what so many of the eggs looked like when she was done.

The New York Times

When she was done, she needed dozens of stitches and staples.

The New York Times

And when she was done, she dropped the microphone and walked offstage, the crowd still jamming.

The New York Times - Sports

She said she could not stop shaking, even when she was done.

The New York Times - Sports

She gave the crowd a sly smile when she was done.

The New York Times - Sports

Rezaï said she planned to study astrophysics when she was done playing tennis.

The New York Times - Sports

"You ripped the top off it," Randy shouted when she was done.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "when she was done" to clearly indicate that a female subject has completed a specific action before another event occurs, ensuring chronological clarity in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "when she was done" if the sequence of actions isn't clear. Ensure the sentence structure unambiguously shows that her action finished before the next event began.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "when she was done" functions as an adverbial clause of time, modifying the main clause by indicating when the action in the main clause occurred. Ludwig provides numerous examples illustrating this function.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "when she was done" is a common and grammatically correct adverbial clause of time, predominantly found in news and media contexts. As Ludwig AI confirms, it effectively indicates the completion of an action by a female subject before another event occurs. For variety, consider alternatives like "after she finished" or "once she had completed it", but ensure the chosen phrase maintains clarity and contextual appropriateness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

after she finished

Focuses on the completion of an action, similar to the original phrase, but uses a different verb.

once she had completed it

Highlights the completion with more emphasis on the process.

having finished

A more concise way to indicate completion, suitable for certain sentence structures.

upon her completion

More formal and emphasizes the moment of finishing.

when she had concluded

Emphasizes a more formal or significant ending.

at the end of her task

Focuses on the task's end rather than the act of finishing.

subsequent to finishing

A more formal and somewhat less common alternative.

following her performance

Implies a performance-related completion.

after bringing it to a close

More descriptive and emphasizes the act of concluding something.

with the completion of her work

Highlights the work itself being completed.

FAQs

How can I use "when she was done" in a sentence?

Use "when she was done" to indicate that a female subject has finished an action. For example, "When she was done with her presentation, she answered questions from the audience".

What are some alternatives to "when she was done"?

You can use alternatives like "after she finished", "once she had completed it", or "upon her completion" depending on the context.

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

While "when she is done" is grammatically correct, it refers to a future action. "When she was done" refers to a past action, making it suitable for describing completed events.

What's the difference between "when she was done" and "after she finished"?

Both phrases indicate completion of an action, but "after she finished" might slightly emphasize the time elapsed since the action's completion, while "when she was done" simply marks the point of completion before the next event.