have been triggered

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "have been triggered" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase to describe when something has been activated or caused as a result of something else. For example: "The fire alarms have been triggered by the smoke."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Since 1997, market-wide breakers have been triggered precisely … never.

The New Yorker

"This must have been triggered by something in the past.

The Guardian

"An explosion could have been triggered by something as simple as someone's use of his cellphone".

The New York Times

But what should have been triggered in his mind was: "We're all human.

The Guardian

It appears to have been triggered by a number of factors.

The Guardian

It looks like the panic may have been triggered by one or more rogue trades.

The Guardian - Business

Sometimes they have been triggered by things we overheard or read or stumbled upon.

The Guardian - Books

Contingency plans have been triggered to prevent a run on the banks.

The Guardian - Business

This blockage seems to have been triggered by a change on Google's part".

The New York Times - Tech

Lust, of course, would have been triggered by the milfy meanderings of Susanna Reid on Strictly.

Independent

This byelection may have been triggered by the runway decision, but it is essentially irrelevant to the contest.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "have been triggered", ensure that the sentence clearly indicates what caused the triggering event. For example, "The alarms have been triggered by the high levels of smoke."

Common error

Avoid using "have been triggered" without specifying the triggering event. Sentences like "Reactions have been triggered" are vague and lack clarity. Always specify what initiated the reaction.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have been triggered" functions as a passive perfect construction, indicating that a subject has undergone an action as a result of an external cause. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Science

36%

Wiki

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "have been triggered" is a grammatically sound and widely used passive construction to describe a cause-and-effect relationship. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable in written English. With a "Very common" frequency, it appears extensively in "News & Media" and "Science" contexts. Best practice involves clearly specifying the triggering event, while common errors include vagueness. Related phrases like "have been initiated" and "have been activated" offer alternative ways to express similar meanings. The phrase's neutral register makes it suitable for diverse contexts, emphasizing its broad applicability and communicative effectiveness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have been initiated

Focuses on the commencement or starting of something.

have been activated

Highlights the process of something being made operative or functional.

have been set off

Emphasizes the action of causing something to explode or begin functioning.

have been prompted

Suggests that something has encouraged or caused an action.

have been sparked

Implies that something has ignited or initiated a sudden burst of activity or feeling.

have been caused

Directly states that something is the reason for an event or situation.

have been brought about

Focuses on the act of causing something to occur or exist.

have been generated

Indicates that something has been produced or created.

have been elicited

Suggests that something has been drawn out or evoked from someone or something.

have been incited

Highlights the action of urging or provoking someone to act unlawfully or violently.

FAQs

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

Use "have been triggered" to indicate that something has been activated or initiated by a specific cause. For example, "The security system "have been triggered" by the unauthorized entry."

What are some alternatives to "have been triggered"?

You can use alternatives such as "have been initiated", "have been activated", or "have been set off" depending on the specific context.

Is it better to use active or passive voice with "have been triggered"?

While "have been triggered" is in the passive voice, it's often appropriate when the cause is more important than the actor. However, using the active voice might be clearer in some cases. For example, instead of "The alarm "have been triggered" by the motion sensor", you could say "The motion sensor triggered the alarm".

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

"Have been triggered" implies an action that started in the past and continues to have relevance or effect in the present. "Were triggered" refers to a completed action in the past without necessarily implying present relevance. For example, "The alarms "have been triggered", and the building is still being evacuated" versus "The alarms were triggered last night during a power surge".