he would trigger

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "he would trigger" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone causing a reaction or event to occur, often in a psychological or emotional context. Example: "Whenever he mentioned the topic, he would trigger memories of her past."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

His woozy folktronica was defiantly undanceable and he was such a hesitant performer that he would trigger samples of his own voice to avoid singing live.

The Guardian - Music

The Commission will publish an assessment on June 27th.Actually Frattini's comments in the interview were restrained he said that he would trigger the penalties if necessary but that has not stopped a flurry of interest from politicians, broadcasters and newspaper editors in Sofia and Bucharest, who have been calling the European Voice office to get a transcript.

The Economist

Cameron had vowed during the campaign that if there was a Brexit vote, he would trigger article 50, the part of the Lisbon treaty that sets in train a two-year process whereby a member state can notify the EU council of its decision to leave.

The Guardian

Some analysts likened Sócrates's moves to those of a chess master, pushing his opponent into a trap: if Coelho agreed with the package, he would also be responsible for it; if not, he would trigger a political crisis and pay a high price in the elections.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Footage of a freckled little girl, counting the petals she was plucking off a flower, shifted into a doomsday countdown capped by a billowing mushroom cloud; the insinuation was that if Johnson's opponent, Barry Goldwater, won he'd trigger World War Three.

The New Yorker

And in this position he'd stand for hours, savoring the psychological meltdown he'd trigger if he acted.

Vice

But he clearly had not anticipated the outrage he'd triggered, and then he had tried to save his career at the expense of his professed principles.

The New Yorker

According to a report by The Associated Press, Arapahoe County Sheriff's Department bomb squad commander Richard Anselmi said he ran when he saw a laser beam that he he worried would trigger a bomb.

Huffington Post

"Llaneza's stated goal was to trigger a governmental crackdown, which he expected would trigger a right-wing counter-response against the government followed by, he hoped, civil war," an FBI agent said.

Huffington Post

Mr Danczuk, who is on the party's right wing, is understood to be considering a challenge that he hopes would trigger a wider contest.

Independent

(Eerily foreshadowing events of a century later, Williams arranged the bail-out of a trust company whose collapse he feared would trigger broader harm, then later uncovered breathtakingly bad lending at National City, forerunner of Citigroup).

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "he would trigger" when you want to convey that someone's action is likely to set off a chain of events or a particular reaction. This phrasing is effective in describing both intended and unintended consequences.

Common error

While generally acceptable, avoid using "he would trigger" excessively in highly formal or academic writing. Consider more precise verbs like "initiate", "cause", or "generate" for a more sophisticated tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he would trigger" functions as a verb phrase expressing conditional or habitual action. It describes a situation where a specific action by "he" is expected to cause a particular outcome. According to Ludwig, this usage is correct and appropriate in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "he would trigger" is a grammatically correct verb phrase used to express a conditional or habitual action, indicating that a person's actions are likely to cause a specific outcome. Ludwig's analysis shows that while acceptable in most contexts, it's particularly prevalent in News & Media sources, maintaining a neutral register. When aiming for more formal tone, consider using synonyms. Given its relatively low frequency, diversifying your vocabulary by exploring alternative expressions can enhance your writing. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is correct and appropriate for use in writing and speech.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he was going to set off

Focuses on intention and immediate future action rather than potential consequence.

he was about to initiate

Emphasizes the start of something, but lacks the sense of causation.

he was to activate

Implies a predetermined action or mechanism, lacking the sense of consequence.

he was on the verge of causing

Highlights the imminence of an event, emphasizing potential negative outcomes.

he was setting in motion

Emphasizes the act of starting a process that leads to a result, somewhat indirect.

he was going to spark

Suggests a sudden and intense reaction or event, less controlled.

he was to bring about

Focuses on causing something to happen, more formal and less immediate.

he was on the point of instigating

Emphasizes the act of provoking something, often with negative connotations.

he had intentions of triggering

Centers on the planned action, with less emphasis on the certainty of the outcome.

he was expected to elicit

Focuses on drawing out a response, often emotional or psychological.

FAQs

How can I use "he would trigger" in a sentence?

The phrase "he would trigger" indicates that someone's action is likely to initiate a specific reaction or event. For instance, "If he mentioned her past, "he would trigger" painful memories".

What are some alternatives to "he would trigger"?

Depending on the context, alternatives to "he would trigger" include "he would initiate", "he would cause", or "he would spark".

Is it grammatically correct to use "he would trigger"?

Yes, "he would trigger" is grammatically correct. The structure "would + verb" is a standard way to express a conditional or predictable future action based on a past or present condition.

What's the difference between "he would trigger" and "he triggered"?

"He triggered" refers to an action that definitely happened in the past. "He would trigger" suggests a hypothetical or repeated action in the past, or a likely action in the future based on a condition.