it was triggered by

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'it was triggered by' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is used to describe the cause of an event. For example: "The fire alarm went off, it was triggered by a nearby cigarette butt."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"I'd say it was triggered by it.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

It was triggered by an energy-saving motion detector.

The New York Times

Initial indications suggest it was triggered by drainage.

The Guardian

Perhaps it was triggered by a nuclear accident.

The Guardian - Books

It was triggered by a confluence of flaky rumours.

The Economist

It was triggered by a confession by fat_hamster: I have a confession to make.

The Guardian - Books

It was triggered by a paper entitled "The dangers of colon cleansing".

The Guardian

Palestinian villagers claim it was triggered by settlers stoning Palestinian cars.

The Guardian

It was triggered by the fact that many promising drugs failed in clinical trials.

Comprehensive Medicinal Chemistry III

It was triggered by anti-Chinese violence in March 2008 in the Tibetan capital, Lhasa.

The Economist

It was triggered by a study where I followed a group of children from age five up until 11.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "it was triggered by", ensure the trigger is a specific event or action, and the result is clearly linked to that trigger. This clarifies the cause-and-effect relationship for the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "it was triggered by" with vague or abstract concepts. Instead, specify the concrete event or action that initiated the result to maintain clarity and precision in your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was triggered by" serves as a causal connector, linking an event or action to its direct cause. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically sound and widely used. It establishes a cause-and-effect relationship, clarifying why something occurred.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

63%

Science

24%

Academia

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it was triggered by" functions as a causal connector, indicating a direct cause-and-effect relationship. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage across diverse contexts, especially in news, science, and academic writing. While applicable in various registers, it is best suited for neutral to formal communication. When employing this phrase, specify the concrete event or action that served as the trigger to ensure clarity. Remember, alternatives like "it was caused by" or "it resulted from" may provide subtly different nuances depending on the desired emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was caused by

Focuses directly on causation, omitting the nuance of a triggering event.

it resulted from

Emphasizes the outcome as a consequence of something.

it stemmed from

Highlights the origin or source of the event.

it originated from

Focuses on the beginning or creation point.

it was initiated by

Highlights the act of starting or setting something in motion.

it was prompted by

Suggests that something encouraged or incited the event.

it was sparked by

Implies a sudden or energetic beginning.

it arose from

Focuses on the emergence or development from a particular source.

it was set off by

Indicates a chain reaction or explosive beginning.

the reason for it was

More direct way of explaining something’s cause. Less evocative than "triggered".

FAQs

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

Use "it was triggered by" to indicate the event or cause that initiated a particular action or situation. For instance, "The protest was triggered by the government's new policy."

What are some alternatives to "it was triggered by"?

You can use alternatives like "it was caused by", "it resulted from", or "it stemmed from" depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "it was triggered by" or "it was caused by"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but "it was triggered by" often suggests a more immediate or reactive cause, whereas "it was caused by" is a more general statement of causation. The best choice depends on the nuance you want to convey.

What is the difference between "it was triggered by" and "it was prompted by"?

"It was triggered by" suggests an immediate, direct cause, while "it was prompted by" implies an encouragement or instigation that led to the event. "Triggered" suggests a more automatic response.