have been caused

USAGE SUMMARY

"have been caused" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is the past participle form of the verb "cause" combined with the auxiliary verb "have." This phrase is commonly used in passive voice constructions to describe something that has been caused by someone or something else in the past. Example: The damage to the building has been caused by the strong winds and heavy rain of the storm last night.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It may have been caused by impatience.

The New York Times - Sports

Very few have been caused by mechanical malfunction.

The Guardian

Bus problems have been caused by Olympic expansion.

The New York Times - Sports

Past crashes have been caused by broken blades.

The New York Times

The fire may have been caused by a cigarette.

The New York Times

Some flaws may have been caused by supermarket handling.

The New York Times - Food

Only 1% of casualties have been caused by chemical munitions.

The Guardian

"We profoundly regret any offence that may have been caused.

The Guardian

Several major refugee movements have been caused by territorial partition.

Britannica

This may have been caused by glacial erosion.

Lithos

Recently many problems have been caused by climate change.

Procedia Engineering

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "have been caused" when you want to emphasize that an action or event in the past has led to a specific outcome, often without specifying the exact agent or cause. Ensure the context supports the passive voice and the focus is on the result rather than the instigator.

Common error

Avoid using "have been caused" when you need to emphasize the agent or source of the action. In such cases, active voice constructions like "X caused Y" are clearer and more direct. The passive construction is best suited when the cause is unknown, unimportant, or obvious from the context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have been caused" primarily functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that something has been acted upon. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically sound and commonly used. It places emphasis on the result of an action rather than the actor.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

33%

Academia

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "have been caused" is a grammatically correct and versatile phrase used to denote causality in a passive voice. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is valid and common. It's prevalent in news, scientific literature, and academic writing, indicating its broad applicability across various registers. When writing, remember to use the active voice when the agent of the action is important and avoid overuse of the passive voice. The phrase offers several alternatives, such as ""resulted from"" or ""stemmed from"", which can add nuance depending on the intended meaning. Remember to choose the structure and vocabulary based on clarity and context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

are due to

Directly states the reason or explanation for something happening.

have been brought about by

Emphasizes the role of an agent or factor in making something happen.

have resulted from

Focuses more on the outcome or consequence of something, rather than the initial cause.

have been triggered by

Indicates a specific event or action that initiated the chain of events.

have stemmed from

Implies an origin or root cause that has gradually led to the current situation.

are attributable to

Formally assigns the cause or responsibility to a particular factor or person.

have originated in

Highlights the place or source where something began or started.

have arisen from

Suggests a more spontaneous or unexpected emergence of something.

can be traced back to

Emphasizes the historical or developmental aspect of identifying the cause.

have their roots in

Suggests a deep or fundamental origin that influences the current situation.

FAQs

How can I use "have been caused" in a sentence?

Use "have been caused" to indicate that something happened as a result of a previous action or event. For example, "The delays "are due to" the heavy traffic" or "The accident may "have resulted from" driver error".

What are some alternatives to "have been caused"?

Alternatives include "resulted from", "stemmed from", "originated in", "arisen from", or "are attributable to", each carrying slightly different nuances in meaning.

When should I use the active voice instead of "have been caused"?

Use the active voice when you want to emphasize who or what performed the action. For example, instead of "The problem "has been caused by" a software bug", say "A software bug caused the problem".

What's the difference between "have been caused by" and "were caused by"?

"Have been caused by" is used with singular nouns, while "were caused by" is used with plural nouns. For example, "The damage "has been caused by" the storm" (singular) versus "The damages "were caused by" the storm" (plural).