was inflicted by

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was inflicted by" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an action or harm that has been caused by someone or something. Example: "The injuries were inflicted by the reckless driver during the accident."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

39 human-written examples

The Telegraph cannot independently confirm that all of the damage was inflicted by the rebels.

The Telegraph

Stoke's last home league defeat was inflicted by Sunderland on 4 February 2012.

Independent

This immeasurable pain was inflicted by 19 young Arabs acting at the behest of Islamist extremists headquartered in distant Afghanistan.

The New York Times

What nobody remarked on was the absurdity of Gove calling the EU a job destroyer, when far heavier destruction was inflicted by British government policy during those years.

The Guardian - Opinion

Mr. Stuart suffered a bullet wound in the stomach, which he said was inflicted by the same black gunman he described to police.

The New York Times

The damage was inflicted by HSBC Finance Corporation (HFC), its US division, which is now being wound down with 6,100 job cuts.

The Guardian - Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

21 human-written examples

Moreover, 13.2% of needlestick and sharps injury of health care workers were self-inflicted, and 12.4% of injuries were inflicted by their colleagues during surgical interventions.

BMC Infectious Diseases

But the cruellest cuts Scotland suffered were inflicted by themselves.

The Guardian - Sport

These are inflicted by every side in the conflict.

The Guardian

Otherwise, further damage will be inflicted by such actions".

The New York Times

Electrocution, when instantaneous, can be inflicted by a state in conformity with due process of law.

Cornell University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "was inflicted by", ensure the subject clearly identifies the recipient of the action, and the object specifies the agent or cause. This provides clarity and precision in your writing.

Common error

A common error is using "was inflicted by" when the agent of the action is unclear or missing. Always ensure the sentence explicitly states who or what caused the action to avoid ambiguity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was inflicted by" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that an action or harm was caused by a specific agent. Ludwig AI shows it connects the receiver of an action with its source, specifying who or what caused something to happen.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

47%

Science

31%

Academia

7%

Less common in

Wiki

7%

Encyclopedias

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "was inflicted by" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to indicate causation, particularly in formal and neutral contexts. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's frequently found in news, scientific, and academic sources. When using this phrase, ensure that the agent of the action is clearly identified to avoid ambiguity. While alternatives like "was caused by" exist, "was inflicted by" often carries a stronger sense of harm or imposition.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was caused by

Replaces "inflicted" with a more general term for causation.

was brought about by

Indicates a process or series of actions leading to the result.

was perpetrated by

Implies a deliberate or malicious act as the cause.

resulted from

Focuses on the outcome as a consequence of something.

arose from

Suggests an origin or emergence from a source.

stemmed from

Highlights the root or foundation of the cause.

was triggered by

Emphasizes the initiating event or factor.

was generated by

Indicates the source or origin of the effect.

was produced by

Similar to generated, but may imply a more formal or structured process.

was occasioned by

Indicates that something provided the opportunity or reason for something else to happen.

FAQs

How do I use "was inflicted by" in a sentence?

Use "was inflicted by" to indicate that an action or harm was caused by a specific agent. For example, "The damage "was inflicted by" the storm" indicates the storm caused the damage.

What are some alternatives to "was inflicted by"?

Alternatives include "was caused by", "was brought about by", or "resulted from", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to use active or passive voice with "was inflicted by"?

The phrase "was inflicted by" is inherently passive. Using the active voice would require restructuring the sentence, such as changing "The damage was inflicted by the storm" to "The storm inflicted the damage".

What is the difference between "was inflicted by" and "was suffered by"?

"Was inflicted by" indicates the cause of the action, while "was suffered by" indicates who or what experienced the action. For example, "The injury "was inflicted by" the attacker" (cause), and "The victim "was suffered by" the injury" (experience).