influenced

USAGE SUMMARY

"influenced" is a correct and usable word in written English.
It is a verb that means to bring about a change in someone or something. Some examples of the word being used in a sentence are: "The professor was heavily influenced by the works of Sigmund Freud." "The results of the experiment were significantly influenced by the changing temperature." "His decision was influenced by his need for security."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The authors say that the healthcare system cannot be solely blamed for this issue, which is strongly influenced by social and economic factors.

The Guardian

'I'm influenced by the blues and how those songs reek metaphorically of sex and wanting,' he says.

The Guardian - Music

The original design, begun in 1973 and completed in 1979, had clean bright simple lines influenced by the German architect Mies van der Rohe, with lots of natural light and plants.

The Guardian - Arts

Current government policy, developed by the Conservatives while in opposition, was heavily influenced by two of the big six, EDF and British Gas-owner Centrica, according to industry sources.

The Guardian - Money

But this ignores that smoking is influenced by social norms, health beliefs, a person's economic and employment circumstances and tobacco industry marketing.

The Guardian

When loneliness takes hold, the ways we see ourselves and others, along with the kinds of responses we expect from others, are heavily influenced by both our feelings of unhappiness and threat".

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"Within four years as a councillor I've influenced a change in government policy, spoke to thousands of young people in school and made a real connection with my constituents, who trust me as a person who is capable of representing them".

The Guardian

Running to more than 2,000 pages and costing hundreds of millions of euros, the report concluded that Lowry proceeded to bypass consideration by his cabinet colleagues and thereby not only influenced but also delivered the result that Esat Digifone had won the evaluation process, ultimately leading to the licensing award.

The Guardian

Some European commentators, from early frontier explorers to modern anthropologists, also were influenced by their own homophobic prejudices to distort native attitudes.

The Guardian - Music

Much of Aberdeen's future wellbeing – and the Treasury's tax take from the North Sea – depends on how long the current price slump will last and that could be influenced by many things, not least whether Opec will cut production in the spring.

The Guardian - Business

In deference to his ancestors, if nothing else, you would expect him to agree that his decision to play tennis was influenced by the fact that both his great-grandmother, Ellen Stawell-Brown, and his grandfather, Henry Billington, competed at Wimbledon.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "influenced", specify what or who is doing the influencing to provide clarity and context. For example, instead of saying "The decision was influenced", specify "The decision was influenced by the stakeholders' feedback".

Common error

Avoid vague sentences by ensuring that you clearly identify the subject that is doing the influencing. Overusing the passive voice with "influenced" can lead to ambiguity. Instead of "The policy was influenced", try "Lobbyists influenced the policy" for a more direct and impactful statement.

Linguistic Context

The word "influenced" functions primarily as a past participle of the verb "influence". It is also used as an adjective to describe something that has been affected by something else. As Ludwig AI explains, it conveys a change or effect on someone or something.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

90%

Formal & Business

5%

Science

3%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

0.5%

Reference

0.5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "influenced" is a versatile word functioning as both a past participle and an adjective, commonly used to denote the impact or effect of one thing on another. As Ludwig AI has confirmed, it is grammatically correct and widely used. This analysis shows that "influenced" frequently appears in news and media, indicating its relevance in describing various impacts and relationships. To enhance your writing, specify what is doing the influencing to avoid vagueness and be mindful of overusing the passive voice. By understanding these nuances, you can effectively use "influenced" to add precision and clarity to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

affected

Changes the verb while maintaining a direct impact.

shaped

Implies a more formative influence.

impacted

Replaces the verb with another suggesting a strong effect.

determined

Indicates a decisive influence.

swayed

Suggests a persuasion towards a particular direction.

guided

Implies a directional influence, like mentorship.

molded

Signifies a transformative influence.

conditioned

Suggests a learned or trained influence.

led to

Focuses on the consequence of the influence.

brought about

Highlights the act of causing something to happen.

FAQs

How can I use "influenced" in a sentence?

Use "influenced" to indicate that someone or something has had an effect on someone's actions, opinions, or decisions. For example, "His art was heavily influenced by Picasso" or "The community's values influenced the development of the new policy".

What are some alternatives to saying "influenced"?

You can use alternatives like "affected", "shaped", or "impacted", depending on the context and the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to use "influenced by" or "influenced with"?

"Influenced by" is the correct and more common preposition to use. "Influenced with" is rarely used and may sound awkward. Stick to "influenced by" to maintain grammatical correctness.

What's the difference between "influenced" and "affected"?

While both "influenced" and "affected" suggest a change or impact, "influenced" often implies a more subtle or indirect effect, while "affected" can indicate a more direct or significant change. The choice depends on the degree of impact you want to convey.