it was her vs it was she

Both are correct, but they're used in different contexts. 'It was her' is more commonly used in informal English, while 'it was she' is considered more formal or old-fashioned. The choice between the two phrases depends on the level of formality you want to convey.

Explained by Miss E.
Editor at TextRanch

Last updated: July 22, 2024 • 37331 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in informal English.

"it was her"

This phrase is used when 'her' is the object of the verb 'was'. It is more commonly used in informal contexts.

Examples:

It was her who called you last night.
I think it was her at the door.
It was her that I saw at the party.

Show examples from the web [+]
Last updated: October 25, 2024

Jul 17, 2018 ... You are more likely to hear "It was her who lied to me," in which "her" is the disjunctive/emphatic pronoun1. In an exam, write "It was she ...
Feb 2, 2023 ... “Maybe it was ego swinging, maybe it was her.” ... Who is the girl that Taylor is referencing in these lyrics in “The Great War?” Taylor has ...
Helen Keller and Me – Why it was “her doomed love life that really made me identify”. October 28, 2021 | Kathi Wolfe. I've been legally blind since birth.
7 days ago ... It was Her Novel's Undoing. Sanora Babb's interviews about the Dust Bowl informed “The Grapes of Wrath.” The book's success led to the ...
Jun 25, 2021 ... Hello, I am confused about saying “It was her” or “It was she” in theft sentences. Can you tell me which is right?
Jan 28, 2018 ... It was her idea to get us in church together a few months ago. We been sticking to our weds night commitment , this week we ramped it up and ...
Feb 27, 2018 ... “It was her chaos that made her beautiful.” – atticus ... Her chaos defined nothing, because that is what chaos means. Her beauty wasn't bound to ...
It was her habit to build up laughter out of inadequate materials.” -John Steinbeck Today could definitely be called pretty inadequate, as so many...
Sep 21, 2016 ... 5127 likes, 29 comments - atticuspoetry on September 21, 2016: "'It was her chaos that made her beautiful' @atticuspoetry #atticuspoetry ...

Alternatives:

It was she who called you last night.
I think it was she at the door.
It was she that I saw at the party.

This phrase is correct but considered more formal or old-fashioned.

"it was she"

This phrase is used when 'she' is the subject of the verb 'was'. It is considered more formal or old-fashioned.

Examples:

It was she who won the competition.
I believe it was she who wrote the letter.
It was she who made the decision.

Show examples from the web [+]
Last updated: October 25, 2024

Jul 17, 2018 ... Is it true that we should use a subject pronoun only in the following sentence? Using 'her' is ungrammatical or unnatural? "It was she/her ...
Oct 29, 2012 ... It was she or her who bought new clothes. which one should i write she or her whether it is subject or object in the above sentence. Thanks.
Feb 14, 2020 ... I actually did not know what you intended at first by It was she did: it simply isn't grammatical in English.
Mar 23, 2018 ... To simplify, you'd say "it was she" if that person were the subject of the relative clause. ... ', then you can say, 'yes it was she', because now ...
Jun 25, 2021 ... Hello, I am confused about saying “It was her” or “It was she” in theft sentences. Can you tell me which is right?
Sep 8, 2021 ... Both “it was her” and “it was she” are correct. english grammar. The former as spoken grammar and the latter as a subjective use in a cleft ...
Jun 30, 2021 ... 18 likes, 2 comments - boudoirphotographycalgary on June 30, 2021: "Abs rule, it was, she decided, her best feature, she really worked her ...
And the phantom was a woman, and when I came to know her better I called her after the heroine of a famous poem, The Angel in the House. It was she who used to ...
Aug 22, 2020 ... - It was she who approached me first. As far as I know, when I use 'she' instead of 'her' it's so formal, so in writing you use that way, but ...
May 4, 2020 ... It was she who rejected the draft. This is correct because she is the subject of the sentence and the action of rejecting the draft.

Alternatives:

It was her who won the competition.
I believe it was her who wrote the letter.
It was her who made the decision.

How TextRanch works

Fast and reliable proofreading, editing, and language advice tailored to your needs.

1. Choose Your Service

Quick Text Editing

Emails and short texts
Proofreading & editing
Ready in 5-10 minutes

SUBMIT YOUR TEXT NOW

Document Editing

Documents of any type (*.docx)
Advanced & Premium editing
Ready in as little as 4 hours

UPLOAD YOUR DOCUMENT

Ask an Editor

Personalized answers to your language questions
Expert guidance on grammar, style, and usage
Ready in 24 hours

ASK YOUR QUESTION

Upload your document or paste your text directly into our platform. Your text is reviewed and refined by our expert editors (real people, not machines) who understand the nuances of English. Expect corrections, improvements, and insightful suggestions that enhance the clarity, tone, and professionalism of your writing.

3. Receive Your Polished Text

In just a few minutes (or hours for longer documents), you'll receive your corrected text. Review the changes, make any final adjustments, and confidently share your polished English with the world.
You can count on a personalized, friendly service every time you use TextRanch. We're committed to helping you make a great impression with every word you write.

We proofread and edit these types of texts and documents:

Short texts Business Emails Personal Emails Social media posts Resume and Curriculum Vitae Business documents Sales proposal Research and academic papers Thesis Dissertation Essays Articles Blog posts and much more....

Our Customers Love Us!

We have an average rating of 4.79 stars based on 283125 votes, and

4.9 Excellent - Reviews 2.137

"7 years without any disappointment. Always 100% satisfied. You guys are the best in the world at what you do. Thank you so much :)"

Zubair
from Bangladesh

"I wasn't aware of this service, it's fascinating and more reliable than standard IA tools available on the internet"

Arturo
from Mexico

"In a world of text messages and online communication, this is great to have as a live tool. Thank you."

Selena
from USA

"Wow, it's just so excellent. I never would have believed I could have a sure and excellent English companion. Thanks, TextRanch."

Ifiok
from Nigeria

"This is my first time using TextRanch, and I like how the editors take time to correct my text. To everyone who has never used TextRanch before, I highly recommend trying it."

Wilson
from France

"It is an amazing source of feedback because, as a non-native speaker, I really need to have a reliable helper correct my text."

Susan
from Germany

it was her vs it was she

"it was her"

"it was she"

Related Comparisons

2. Submit Your Text

3. Receive Your Polished Text