had been driven by

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been driven by" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate the past action of being driven by someone else. For example, "The car had been driven by Mary before it was sold."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Muslim terrorists had been driven by such beliefs before.

The New Yorker

"She had been driven by jealousy," he said.

The Guardian

But, Francis added, he knew that the wolf had been driven by hunger.

The New Yorker

Witnesses said it had been driven by a third man, also masked.

The New York Times

It was the first time that a robot had been driven by living cells.

The Guardian

Patten claimed News International's coverage of the crisis had been driven by its anti-BBC agenda.

The Guardian

The reports said it had been driven by a lone suicide-bomber believed to belong to a known jihadist group.

The Economist

She had been driven by a neighbour to collect Mary from school where she had had her first violin lesson.

The Guardian

Instead, having sought advice from a specialist, he had been driven by limousine to Bristol for the FA Cup tie.

The Guardian - Sport

He said the surge in technology stocks over the last few years had been driven by continually upgraded earnings estimates.

The New York Times

But he did not believe that the change had been driven by a cynical desire to cut costs.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "had been driven by", ensure the sentence clearly identifies both the action and the cause or motivation behind it. This helps maintain clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid attributing an action to a superficial cause when a deeper, more fundamental reason exists. Always consider the underlying motivations to ensure your analysis is accurate and insightful.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been driven by" functions as a passive voice construction indicating causation or influence. It specifies what factor or force was responsible for a particular action or outcome in the past. Ludwig confirms its validity and common usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Encyclopedias

15%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Science

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had been driven by" is a grammatically correct and commonly used passive construction. As confirmed by Ludwig, it serves to explain the reasons or motivations behind a past action or event. The phrase is versatile, appearing most frequently in news and media contexts, and maintains a neutral to formal register. When using this phrase, ensure clarity by explicitly identifying both the action and its underlying cause.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was caused by

A more direct way of stating that something resulted from a specific cause.

was motivated by

Focuses on the internal impetus or desire that caused someone to act, rather than an external force.

was influenced by

Emphasizes the subtle or gradual effect of something on someone's actions or decisions.

was fueled by

Suggests that something was sustained or intensified by a particular factor.

was prompted by

Highlights a specific event or action that immediately preceded and triggered the subsequent action.

was dictated by

Implies that external circumstances or rules left little room for choice.

stemmed from

Indicates that something originated or arose from a particular source or cause.

was spurred by

Suggests a more energetic or sudden motivation compared to simply 'driven'.

was instigated by

Indicates that something was initiated or provoked by a particular cause.

arose from

Similar to 'stemmed from', suggesting the beginning or emergence of something from a cause.

FAQs

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

Use "had been driven by" to indicate that a past action or decision was influenced or caused by a particular factor. For example, "The company's growth had been driven by innovative marketing strategies."

What are some alternatives to saying "had been driven by"?

You can use alternatives like "was motivated by", "was caused by", or "was influenced by" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "had been driven by" or "was driven by"?

"Had been driven by" indicates a past action completed before another point in the past, while "was driven by" describes a past action. The correct choice depends on the specific timeline you're describing.

What's the difference between "had been driven by" and "was spurred by"?

"Had been driven by" suggests a sustained or continuous influence, while "was spurred by" implies a more sudden or immediate motivation. The choice depends on whether the influence was gradual or abrupt.