is instigated by

USAGE SUMMARY

"is instigated by" is correct and usable in written English, and it is typically used when discussing actions or events that are caused or initiated by someone or something else.
Example: The protests were instigated by the government's decision to raise fuel prices. In this example, the phrase "is instigated by" indicates that the protests were caused or initiated by the government's decision.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

25 human-written examples

"India has an unsustainable density of NGOs and the movement is instigated by them.

The Guardian

The assumption of pure insertion -- that brain activity is instigated by external stimuli -- is now understood to be incorrect.

University of California, Berkeley

If a fight is instigated by one side, then that side is to blame for instigating the fight.

The Economist

More women have begun to talk about domestic violence (only 1 percent of reported violence and abuse is instigated by women against their male partners, according to the survey findings).

The New York Times

Hsiao-Jou Tang, a supple mover who ricochets from one side of the stage to the other — usually this is instigated by a darting leg — performs a solo that like much in this dance becomes a lesson in monotonous aggression.

The New York Times - Arts

Guha accuses the government of allowing mob violence, even when it’s not spontaneous and is instigated by political parties.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

35 human-written examples

Mine was instigated by a divorce.

The New Yorker

This has been instigated by Big Ears.

The Guardian

Brexit was instigated by a referendum in 2016.

The Guardian - Opinion

Haye claims the fracas was instigated by Chisora.

Independent

A lot of that stuff was instigated by them.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "is instigated by" to clearly indicate the initiator or cause of an action or event, particularly when the instigation involves a deliberate act or decision.

Common error

Avoid using "is instigated by" when a simple causal relationship is more appropriate. "Caused by" is better for direct consequences; "instigated by" suggests a more indirect or deliberate initiation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is instigated by" functions as a passive construction indicating the cause or initiator of an action or event. As Ludwig AI indicates, it highlights that something is begun or set in motion by a specific entity or action.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

32%

News & Media

52%

Academia

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "is instigated by" is a common phrase used to express the initiation or causation of an event, often implying a deliberate or indirect action. As Ludwig AI pointed out, it's grammatically correct and suitable for various contexts, particularly in science and news media. While similar to phrases like "is caused by" or "is triggered by", "is instigated by" carries a specific connotation of intentionality or instigation. When using the phrase, ensure it aligns with the context and that a simple causal relationship isn't more appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is initiated by

Focuses on the commencement or beginning of an action or process, similar to "is instigated by" but emphasizes the starting point.

is caused by

Highlights the direct cause-and-effect relationship, whereas "is instigated by" might imply a more indirect or motivating factor.

is triggered by

Suggests a sudden or reactive beginning, implying a stimulus-response dynamic, whereas "is instigated by" can denote a planned action.

is prompted by

Implies that something encourages or motivates an action, but might not fully initiate it as "is instigated by" does.

is fueled by

Indicates that something provides energy or support for an action, differing from "is instigated by" which denotes the action's origin.

is spurred by

Similar to 'prompted by', this implies encouragement, but also suggests the event happened quickly

is brought about by

Focuses on the result or consequence of an action, rather than the initiation itself, unlike "is instigated by".

is set in motion by

Emphasizes the start of a chain reaction or sequence of events, implying a more complex process than "is instigated by".

is given rise to by

Highlights the emergence or creation of something as a result of a cause, which "is instigated by" does not directly imply.

is motivated by

Highlights the underlying reasons or intentions behind an action, differing from "is instigated by" which focuses on the initiation.

FAQs

How to use "is instigated by" in a sentence?

Use "is instigated by" to show what or who initiated an event or action. For instance, "The investigation was instigated by the whistleblower's report."

What can I say instead of "is instigated by"?

You can use alternatives like "is caused by", "is initiated by", or "is triggered by" depending on the specific context.

Which is correct, "is instigated by" or "was instigated by"?

Both are correct, but "is instigated by" indicates present tense, while "was instigated by" indicates past tense. Choose the tense that matches the timeline of your sentence.

What's the difference between "is instigated by" and "is influenced by"?

"Is instigated by" means something is started or initiated by something else, whereas "is influenced by" means something is affected or changed by something else. Instigation implies direct action, influence implies a more subtle effect.