Driven by

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Driven by" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate the motivation or reason behind an action or decision. Example: "The project was driven by a desire to innovate and improve efficiency in our processes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Driven by ideology!

The Guardian

Driven by engineering.

TechCrunch

"We're driven by competition".

The New York Times

We're driven by that".

The New York Times - Sports

I'm driven by that.

The New York Times

Probably driven by talking dogs.

The New Yorker

Don't be driven by necessity.

Independent

He was driven by ambition.

The New Yorker

It's not driven by politics.

The New York Times

"And it's driven by winning".

The New York Times - Sports

They may simply be driven by greed.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "driven by", ensure that the subject clearly reflects what is exerting the driving force. Clarity helps to avoid ambiguity and strengthens the sentence's impact.

Common error

Avoid using "driven by" when the true motivator is unclear or misattributed. This can lead to confusion and weaken the overall meaning of your sentence. For instance, don't say 'The project was driven by success' if the success was not the initial motivating factor.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "driven by" functions as a post-positive modifier, typically following a noun or pronoun to specify the cause or motivation behind an action, state, or characteristic. Ludwig examples illustrate it in varied contexts, from ideology to competition.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Formal & Business

18%

Science

14%

Less common in

Social Media

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "driven by" is a versatile and common phrase used to indicate cause, motivation, or influence. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, its grammatical status is correct, and it appears most frequently in news and media contexts. To ensure effective writing, use "driven by" to clarify the direct motivator behind an action and avoid misattributing the driving force. Alternatives like "motivated by" and "influenced by" offer nuanced ways to express similar concepts. This comprehensive analysis aims to guide writers in leveraging the phrase "driven by" effectively across diverse contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

motivated by

Focuses on the internal impetus or desire that prompts an action.

influenced by

Highlights the impact or effect that something has on a decision or outcome.

prompted by

Suggests that something triggered a specific action or response.

caused by

Directly indicates the reason for a specific result or situation.

inspired by

Emphasizes the creative or emotional source of an action or idea.

stemming from

Indicates the origin or root cause of something.

resulting from

Focuses on the outcome or consequence of a particular factor.

a consequence of

Highlights the direct link between a preceding event or condition and a subsequent result.

on account of

Provides a formal explanation for a particular state or circumstance.

due to

Indicates a direct causal relationship between two events or conditions.

FAQs

How can I use "driven by" in a sentence?

Use "driven by" to show what motivates or causes something. For example, "The company's growth is "driven by" innovation" indicates that innovation is the main reason for the company's expansion.

What are some alternatives to "driven by"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "motivated by", "influenced by", or "prompted by" to express similar meanings. Each alternative emphasizes a slightly different aspect of causation or motivation.

Is it correct to say "driving by" instead of "driven by"?

No, "driving by" has a different meaning. "Driving by" refers to the act of operating a vehicle and passing a location, while "driven by" indicates motivation or cause. Therefore, using "driving by" in place of ""driven by"" would be grammatically incorrect in contexts requiring the latter's meaning.

What's the difference between "driven by" and "fueled by"?

"Driven by" generally implies a core motivator or cause, whereas "fueled by" suggests that something is being sustained or intensified by a particular element. While similar, "fueled by" often conveys a sense of ongoing energy or momentum derived from something, making the terms not always interchangeable.