prompted

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "prompted" is correct and usable in written English.
It typically means to cause someone or something to act or react in a particular way. Example: The threat of a deadline prompted him to finish the assignment quickly.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

A pricing dispute prompted the country to reorient its exports towards China, aided by the opening of a pipeline connecting the two countries in 2009.

The Guardian

In the early 2000s, pharmaceutical companies were high on activists' hit lists, prompted by Big Pharma's ill-advised attempt to sue the South African government for patent infringement on HIV drugs; an attempt to deal with the country's epidemic by allowing cheaper, generic copies to be sold.

The Guardian

The social networking site calculated that more than 150m tweets about the Games went out during the fortnight, with more than 80,000 a minute prompted by Usain Bolt's win in the 200m sprint.

The Guardian - Opinion

It was prompted by confusion among residents about when bins and recycling were collected.

The Guardian

It prompted a mini-reshuffle, with Home Office minister James Brokenshire promoted to Harper's position and Karen Bradley, Conservative MP for Staffordshire Moorlands, filling the former's position.

The Guardian

It subsequently recovered, prompted by a switch from the traditional 3pm kick-off time to a primetime early evening berth in 2012, which it has retained ever since.

The Guardian

The recent spike in UVF-related violence has prompted the Police Federation to claim the organisation's ceasefire is finished.

The Guardian

Freezing rain prompted the federal government to allow workers to arrive up to two hours later than normal on Monday, or take unscheduled leave.

The Guardian

Robert Goldstein, Las Vegas Sands' former head of global gambling operations and now Adelson's No 2, told the court the Reuters report and "the other stuff" had prompted them to stop "doing business" with Cheung.

The Guardian

Last year's report on the Mid Staffs scandal prompted the CQC to significantly beef up how it inspects hospitals.

The Guardian

Now, I don't know what prompted me to say what I said next, but as he handed me the prescription, I just blurted it out: "There's one more thing: When I was 14 years old, I shot my best friend in the face accidentally, and I watched him die".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "prompted" when you want to emphasize that a specific action or event served as a catalyst for another action or decision. It implies a direct link but not necessarily a forceful or immediate reaction.

Common error

While "prompted" is versatile, overuse can make writing sound repetitive. In formal contexts, consider stronger verbs like "instigated" or "motivated" for greater impact.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "prompted" is as the past tense and past participle of the verb prompt. It indicates that something has caused or initiated an action or feeling. Ludwig confirms its correct usage in numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "prompted" functions as the past tense of the verb "prompt", signifying the act of causing or initiating something. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and widely used, especially in News & Media. While versatile, alternatives like "led to" or "caused" can offer variety. Use "prompted" to highlight a direct cause-and-effect relationship, but be mindful of overuse in formal writing. This analysis, supported by Ludwig's extensive examples, provides a comprehensive understanding of "prompted" and its effective application.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

caused

A direct causation, sometimes lacking the nuance of "prompted".

led to

Indicates a direct consequence or result, focusing on the outcome rather than the initial cause.

triggered

Emphasizes a sudden or immediate reaction, often to a specific event or stimulus.

sparked

Implies a sudden burst of activity or interest, like igniting a flame.

gave rise to

Suggests a more gradual development or emergence of something.

brought about

Highlights the achievement of something.

instigated

Highlights the initiation of a process or event, often with a sense of planning or intention.

motivated

Focuses on the internal drive or reason behind an action.

encouraged

Suggests a positive influence or support that led to the action.

induced

Indicates persuasion or influence to do something.

FAQs

How to use "prompted" in a sentence?

Use "prompted" to indicate that something encouraged or caused an action or feeling. For example, "The news of her promotion "prompted" a celebration among her colleagues."

What can I say instead of "prompted"?

You can use alternatives like "led to", "caused", or "triggered" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "prompted by" or "prompted from"?

"Prompted by" is the correct and more common construction. "Prompted from" is rarely used and generally incorrect.

What's the difference between "prompted" and "inspired"?

"Prompted" suggests a direct cause-and-effect relationship, while "inspired" implies a more creative or emotional influence. "The lecture "prompted" further research", whereas "The artist was "inspired" by nature".