it was affected by

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was affected by" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe how something has been influenced or changed by a particular factor or event. Example: "The outcome of the experiment was affected by the temperature fluctuations during the testing period."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Hypotheses to explain its orbit include that it was affected by a passing star, that it was captured from another planetary system, or that it was tugged into its current position by a trans-Neptunian planet.

Wikipedia

Wyeth reported flat third-quarter profit as it was affected by generic competition for Protonix, its drug to fight acid reflux.

The New York Times

In the Fenton reaction, [H2O2residual] was significantly affected by initial [H2O2] and its interaction with [Fe]; however, in the Fenton-like reaction, it was affected by initial [H2O2] only.

Chemico-Biological Interactions

The Rangers and the league conducted studies on various types of netting and how it was affected by arena lighting.

The New York Times - Sports

It was affected by Philip Larkin, who knew better than I how to use his skills as a novelist and poet.

The Guardian - Books

The Metropolitan Opera received more than 250 calls over the weekend from people checking to see if it was affected by the strike.

The New York Times

Medieval British Latin was particularly distinctive because it was affected by the diversity of native spoken languages, including English, French, Irish, Norse, and Welsh.

The Guardian - Books

Rather, they said, it was affected by the collection of more accurate data, including information from 65 more California hospitals that performed a small number of abortions.

The New York Times

"LA was great from a British point of view," Whitbread tells OSM, "but for me it was affected by the absence of East Germany's Petra Felke, the best in the world at that time.

The Guardian - Sport

As well as declining consumer confidence, the company said it was affected by falling footfall at shopping venues, due to the rise of internet shopping, and stiff competition from rivals.

The Guardian - Business

The country now produces roughly 2.5 million to 2.6 million barrels of crude a day, compared with 3.5 million barrels a day in the 1980's, the last time it was affected by OPEC quota obligations.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "it was affected by", ensure that the cause of the effect is clearly stated to provide context and clarity for the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "it was affected by" without specifying what caused the effect. For example, instead of saying "the results were affected by several factors", be specific: "the results were affected by temperature fluctuations and inconsistent data collection methods".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was affected by" functions as a passive construction, indicating that a subject has undergone a change or influence due to an external factor. This is supported by Ludwig AI, which confirms the phrase's correct and usable status in written English. It is used to highlight the result of an action rather than the actor.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it was affected by" is a grammatically correct and versatile expression used to indicate that something has been influenced or altered by an external factor. According to Ludwig, it’s a usable phrase in written English. Its high frequency across various sources, particularly in News & Media and Science, underscores its broad applicability. When using this phrase, clarity and specificity are key; ensure that the cause of the effect is clearly stated. While alternatives like "it was influenced by" and "it was impacted by" exist, "affected" remains a reliable and widely accepted choice. Finally, per Ludwig, "it was affected by" is a passive construction, the focus is shifted away from the actor and toward the recipient of the action.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was influenced by

Changes the verb from 'affected' to 'influenced', emphasizing the impact without necessarily implying a negative outcome.

it was impacted by

Substitutes 'affected' with 'impacted', suggesting a significant or forceful effect.

it was altered by

Replaces 'affected' with 'altered', highlighting a change in form or character.

it was changed by

Uses 'changed' instead of 'affected', focusing on the resulting modification.

it was modified by

Employs 'modified' in place of 'affected', suggesting a specific adjustment or adaptation.

it was shaped by

Replaces 'affected' with 'shaped', indicating a formative influence.

it was determined by

Changes 'affected' to 'determined', emphasizing that something was definitively caused or decided by something else.

it was conditioned by

Uses 'conditioned' instead of 'affected', highlighting that something's state depends on certain conditions

it was swayed by

Replaces 'affected' with 'swayed', highlighting that something was influenced to change mind or direction.

it was disturbed by

Uses 'disturbed' in place of 'affected', implying that something's state was interrupted or disrupted.

FAQs

How can I use "it was affected by" in a sentence?

Use "it was affected by" to describe how something has been influenced or changed by a particular factor or event. For instance, "The company's profits were affected by the recent economic downturn".

What can I say instead of "it was affected by"?

You can use alternatives like "it was influenced by", "it was impacted by", or "it was altered by" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "it was affected by" or "it was impacted by"?

Both "it was affected by" and "it was impacted by" are correct, but "affected" is generally considered more formal and widely accepted. "Impacted" is sometimes seen as business jargon. Choose the word that best fits the tone of your writing.

Which is correct, "it was affected by" or "it was effected by"?

"It was affected by" is the correct phrase to use when describing that something has been influenced. "Effected" means to bring about or cause to happen, so "it was effected by" would be grammatically incorrect in most contexts where you would use "it was affected by".