was driven by

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was driven by" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use this phrase in the past simple tense to describe a situation where someone or something was forced to do something due to a certain factor. For example, "The rise in gas prices last summer was driven by a severe shortage of oil."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

He was driven by ambition.

The New Yorker

It was driven by his young son.

The New Yorker

Everything was driven by hiraeth.

The Guardian - Books

It was driven by a robot.

The New York Times

His family was driven by music.

The Guardian

It was driven by material corporate cutbacks.

The New York Times

boom was driven by an undisclosed force.

The New York Times

He was driven by Brian Sears.

The New York Times

The surge was driven by food and fuel prices.

The New York Times

In Iraq, the collapse was driven by outside pressures.

The New York Times

Some analysts said the merger was driven by political interests.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "was driven by", ensure that the subject is clearly identified and the driving force is explicitly stated to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Overusing passive voice with "was driven by" can sometimes obscure the responsible party. Where appropriate, rephrase to use active voice for greater clarity. For example, instead of "The decision was driven by external pressure", consider "External pressure drove the decision."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was driven by" functions as a causal connector, linking an effect to its cause. It's used to explain what motivated or influenced a particular action, event, or decision. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this usage is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "was driven by" serves as a crucial tool for establishing cause-and-effect relationships in writing and speech. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and frequently used. It is commonly found in News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business contexts, making it a versatile phrase across different registers. When using "was driven by", ensure clarity by explicitly stating both the subject and the driving force. Alternatives such as "was motivated by" and "was influenced by" can add nuance, while avoiding excessive passive voice improves overall writing quality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was motivated by

Focuses on the internal reasons or incentives behind an action or decision.

was prompted by

Suggests that something triggered or initiated a particular action or response.

was influenced by

Highlights the impact or effect that something had on a decision or outcome.

was caused by

Directly indicates that something resulted from a specific cause or event.

stemmed from

Implies that something originated or developed from a particular source or origin.

arose from

Suggests that something emerged or came into existence as a result of a specific situation.

resulted from

Indicates that something happened as a consequence or outcome of a particular event.

was a consequence of

Emphasizes the relationship between an action and its subsequent effect.

was determined by

Suggests that a particular outcome was definitively decided or controlled by a specific factor.

was impelled by

Highlights a strong feeling that forces somebody to do something.

FAQs

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

Use "was driven by" to explain the cause or motivation behind an action or decision. For example, "The company's success "was driven by" innovative marketing strategies." It indicates that the success resulted from those strategies.

What are some alternatives to "was driven by"?

You can use alternatives such as "was motivated by", "was prompted by", or "was influenced by" depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "driven by" without the "was"?

Yes, "driven by" can be used as a participial phrase to modify a noun. For example, "Driven by ambition, he pursued his goals relentlessly." However, "was driven by" is used in the past simple tense to describe a completed action.

What's the difference between "was driven by" and "resulted in"?

"Was driven by" indicates the cause or motivation behind something, while "resulted in" indicates the outcome or consequence. For example, "The policy change "was driven by" public pressure" (cause), but "The policy change resulted in increased efficiency" (outcome).