caused bewilderment

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "caused bewilderment" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing a situation or event that has led to confusion or puzzlement among people. Example: "The sudden change in plans caused bewilderment among the team members, leaving them unsure of how to proceed."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

The claim of Catholic aggression caused bewilderment.

The Economist

The G.D.P. numbers caused bewilderment among some economists, including Andrew Goodwin of Ernst & Young's economic forecasting unit, the ITEM Club.

The New York Times

The British gross domestic product numbers caused bewilderment among some economists, including Andrew Goodwin of Ernst & Young's economic forecasting unit, the Item Club.

The New York Times

An old girlfriend of mine - now she was proper posh - caused bewilderment and mirth in the backs of taxis: why did she always talk about "cheese mites" to the drivers?

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

My frequent inability to recognize schoolmates would cause bewilderment, and sometimes offense — it did not occur to them (why should it?) that I had a perceptual problem.

The New Yorker

They may have the album, they may well know the songs, but the sight of the London Metropolitan Orchestra setting up at the back of the stage still causes bewilderment among the riotous beer boys at the front of the stage.

Independent

If they believed him to be a small child, then telling them truthfully that he was out of town at a medical conference, say, would cause bewilderment or suspicion; but if they believed their son to be a college student, telling them that he was playing in the garden would also be a mistake.

The New Yorker

Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani's attacks this week on an unarmed black man shot dead by the police are causing bewilderment among members of his own party, who say they are concerned about Mr. Giuliani's temperament and the tenor of his United States Senate campaign against Hillary Rodham Clinton.

The New York Times

Without an example for ICBC to follow in China's current economic downturn, the process of seeking transformation will inevitably cause bewilderment.

Financial Innovation

This caused some bewilderment.

The Guardian - Books

An outlandish group modelled after similar neo-Nazi parties of Europe, they caused more bewilderment than fear.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "caused bewilderment", ensure the subject clearly identifies what triggered the confusion. For example, "The complex instructions caused bewilderment among the participants."

Common error

Avoid phrasing that implies the subject is experiencing bewilderment directly. For instance, instead of saying "The explanation caused bewilderment", which is grammatically correct, avoid misattributing that the explanation was bewildered, clarify that the audience or recipient was bewildered.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "caused bewilderment" functions as a verb phrase, indicating that something (the subject) has led to a state of confusion or perplexity in someone else. Ludwig examples show that it is commonly used to describe reactions to events or information.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "caused bewilderment" is a grammatically sound verb phrase used to describe situations that have led to confusion or perplexity. According to Ludwig, the phrase is deemed correct and usable in written English. It's most commonly found in news and media, and science contexts. While relatively rare, it's important to ensure the subject clearly identifies the cause of the bewilderment. Alternatives include "led to confusion" or "generated perplexity", which can provide variety in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

led to confusion

Changes the verb to "led" and uses the noun "confusion" instead of "bewilderment".

created confusion

Similar to "led to confusion" but uses "created" as the action verb.

generated perplexity

Replaces "caused" with "generated" and "bewilderment" with "perplexity", both synonyms but with a slightly more formal tone.

resulted in bafflement

Uses "resulted in" to replace "caused" and "bafflement" to replace "bewilderment", indicating a state of being puzzled.

sparked disorientation

Replaces "caused" with "sparked" and "bewilderment" with "disorientation", suggesting a loss of bearings.

instigated puzzlement

Uses "instigated" to mean "caused" and "puzzlement" to replace "bewilderment", implying a state of mild confusion.

gave rise to mystification

Employs "gave rise to" instead of "caused" and replaces "bewilderment" with "mystification", indicating a deeper sense of mystery.

precipitated incomprehension

Uses "precipitated" for "caused" and "incomprehension" for "bewilderment", suggesting a failure to understand.

occasioned discombobulation

Replaces "caused" with "occasioned" and "bewilderment" with "discombobulation", implying a humorous or exaggerated sense of confusion.

elicited befuddlement

Employs "elicited" instead of "caused" and replaces "bewilderment" with "befuddlement", suggesting a state of being muddled or unclear.

FAQs

How can I use "caused bewilderment" in a sentence?

Use "caused bewilderment" to describe a situation where something led to confusion or perplexity. For example, "The sudden policy change "caused bewilderment" among the employees".

What are some alternatives to "caused bewilderment"?

You can use alternatives like "led to confusion", "generated perplexity", or "created confusion" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "caused bewilderment"?

Yes, "caused bewilderment" is grammatically correct and commonly used to describe something that led to confusion or perplexity.

What's the difference between "caused bewilderment" and "resulted in bafflement"?

"Caused bewilderment" generally indicates a state of confusion, while "resulted in bafflement" suggests a state of being completely puzzled or stumped. The latter is a stronger degree of confusion.