was affected by

USAGE SUMMARY

"was affected by" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to the influence of something on another. For example, "The economy was affected by the pandemic."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

Joe was affected by it.

The New York Times - Sports

"I was affected by it," she says.

The Guardian - Books

LOX enzyme was affected by acidic conditions.

LWT - Food Science and Technology

Microbial N flow was affected by diet.

Journal of Dairy Science

It's up to anyone who was affected by it".

The Guardian - Film

I was affected by polio in both legs.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

5 human-written examples

Everybody's affected by that.

The New York Times - Sports

Sports, too, are affected by propaganda.

The New Yorker

"Both will be affected by the shutdown".

The New York Times

Who will be affected by the earthquake?

The New Yorker

"Many were affected by Sandy," he said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was affected by" to indicate a passive impact. If the subject actively responded to something, consider using "responded to" or "reacted to" for greater accuracy.

Common error

Avoid implying a direct causal relationship when the connection is correlational or indirect. Instead of "The increase in crime was affected by the new policy," use "The increase in crime was possibly correlated with the new policy" to accurately reflect the relationship.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was affected by" functions as a passive construction indicating that a subject experienced change or influence as a result of an external factor. As Ludwig AI confirms, it correctly conveys influence. Examples show its use in various contexts, from personal experiences to scientific observations.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

47%

Formal & Business

4%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "was affected by" is a grammatically sound and versatile expression used to convey influence or change experienced by a subject due to an external factor. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is widely applicable across diverse contexts, including news, science, and formal communications. Its neutral register makes it suitable for various writing styles, and while alternatives like "was influenced by" or "was impacted by" exist, "was affected by" remains a common and effective choice for indicating passive impact. When using this phrase, clarity and accurate depiction of causal relationships are key to effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was influenced by

Focuses on the impact of something on someone or something's behavior, opinions, or decisions.

was impacted by

Emphasizes the force or effect of something, often implying a significant change.

was influenced through

Highlights that influence occurred via a channel or intermediary.

was changed as a result of

Highlights the change brought about by a particular cause or event.

experienced the effects of

Focuses on the sensory experience or tangible consequences of an action or event.

was altered by

Implies a modification or transformation due to an external factor.

was shaped by

Suggests that something was molded or formed under the influence of something else.

underwent modification due to

Formally indicates a change process triggered by a specific factor.

was subject to

Implies a vulnerability or susceptibility to a particular influence or condition.

felt the impact of

Conveys the direct, personal experience of an event's consequences.

FAQs

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

Use "was affected by" to show how something experienced a change or influence due to something else. For example, "The company's profits "was affected by" the recent economic downturn".

What are some alternatives to saying "was affected by"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "was influenced by", "was impacted by", or "was altered by".

Is it correct to say "was effected by" instead of "was affected by"?

No, "affected" (meaning influenced) and "effected" (meaning brought about or caused) have different meanings. Use ""was affected by"" to indicate influence.

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

While similar, ""was affected by"" generally implies a change, whereas "was influenced by" suggests a shaping or guiding force. The choice depends on whether you want to emphasize change or guidance.