alarms were triggered

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "alarms were triggered" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where an alarm system has been activated due to a specific event or condition. Example: "When the security breach was detected, alarms were triggered throughout the building."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Car alarms were triggered for miles around, and the roof of a zinc factory partially collapsed.

The New York Times

During this period 1,339,931 passengers were screened and a total of 39 alarms were triggered, 5 of which with a value 10 times the mean value of the natural background from photon radiation (which was 85 nSv/h), and no alarms exceeded 100 μSv/h at 1 m distance, which is the level of response for legal transport of radioactive materials set by the International Atomic Energy Agency IAEAA).

Radiation Measurements

He said no alarms were triggered on its systems because it was not a fully blown fault and many people were still able to access the internet.

BBC

Alarms were triggered when measurements were outside of pre-determined limits.

BMC Public Health

In practice, carers often had to support a person to use often even simple technologies, for example routinely telling them to look at a clock instead of simply giving them the time, or reassuring a person whenever telecare alarms were triggered.

BMC Geriatrics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Exhaustive testing of the patient's hemodialysis machine showed that it was functioning correctly, and in particular venous alarms were triggering normally.

BMC Nephrology

When the alarms are triggered, you will find that they actually fire at different times, even though they are set to go off simultaneously.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Alarms are triggered when dangerous amounts of carbon monoxide are generated within a given time -- when the level remains at 70 parts per million for 180 minutes, for example, or at 400 parts per million for 15 minutes.

The New York Times

Alarms are triggered according to the rule-based reasoning approach, following the process we have just described.

EURASIP Journal on Information Security

They break into the laboratory and free her from confinement, but the lab's alarms are triggered.

Wikipedia

Imagine if an alarm were triggered if this convicted molester ever came within a half mile of a school.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "alarms were triggered" when you want to emphasize the activation of an alarm system as a response to a specific event or condition, often in a passive voice construction.

Common error

Avoid using "alarms were triggered by" when the active subject is vague or unimportant. Instead, revise to focus on the triggering event itself. For instance, instead of saying "Alarms were triggered by an unknown source", specify the source if possible, or rephrase to "The security breach triggered the alarms".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "alarms were triggered" functions as the passive voice construction of the verb "trigger". Ludwig AI confirms that this indicates that alarms were activated by some event or condition. Examples show it used to describe security breaches, malfunctions, and other emergency situations.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Science

30%

Academia

18%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "alarms were triggered" is a grammatically correct passive voice construction used to describe the activation of an alarm system due to a specific event. According to Ludwig AI, it commonly appears in news reports, scientific articles, and academic papers. While alternatives like "alarms were activated" or "alarms went off" exist, the original phrase maintains a formal tone suitable for various contexts. When using this phrase, ensure that the subject triggering the alarms is either clearly identified or appropriately deemphasized in the sentence structure. The most common mistake is using active voice when the emphasis should remain on the alarm system's response rather than the actor.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

alerts were triggered

Maintains the original structure but uses "alerts" instead of "alarms", offering a more general term for warnings.

alarms were activated

Replaces "triggered" with "activated", offering a more direct and common synonym that maintains the passive voice structure.

alerts were activated

Substitutes "alarms" with "alerts", broadening the scope to include various types of warning systems.

alarms were set off

Employs "set off" instead of "triggered", suggesting an action that caused the alarms to activate.

alarms went off

Uses the phrasal verb "went off" to indicate the sudden activation of alarms, providing a more informal alternative.

warning systems were activated

Specifies "warning systems" instead of just "alarms", providing a more descriptive and formal tone.

the alarm system was activated

Shifts the focus to the alarm system as a whole, emphasizing its activation rather than the triggering event.

the system issued an alert

Changes the structure to active voice, indicating the system's role in issuing the alert.

an alarm was raised

Uses "raised" to describe the activation of the alarm, implying a signal or notification was initiated.

the detectors signaled an issue

Emphasizes the detection aspect and uses "signaled an issue" to convey the response of the detectors.

FAQs

How can I use "alarms were triggered" in a sentence?

You can use "alarms were triggered" to describe a situation where an alarm system activated due to a specific event. For example, "When the security breach was detected, "alarms were triggered" throughout the building".

What are some alternatives to saying "alarms were triggered"?

Alternatives include "alarms were activated", "alarms went off", or "alerts were triggered", depending on the context.

Is it better to use active or passive voice with "alarms were triggered"?

Using passive voice is often appropriate when the focus is on the alarms themselves rather than what caused them to activate. However, using active voice can be more direct if the cause is known and important, such as "The fire triggered the alarms".

What's the difference between "alarms were triggered" and "an alarm was triggered"?

"Alarms were triggered" implies that multiple alarms activated, while "an alarm was triggered" indicates that only one alarm activated. The choice depends on whether you're referring to a single event or a system-wide response.