was prompted

USAGE SUMMARY

"was prompted" is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
You can use it whenever you want to express that something was initiated by something else. For example, "The students' interest in the history lesson was prompted by the teacher's engaging presentation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The handshake was prompted.

The New York Times

That decision was prompted by a crisis.

The Economist

Bird was prompted by a question; Parcells was prompted by pomposity.

The New York Times - Sports

It was prompted by your tweet, to be sure.

The Washington Post

Real passion was prompted by mention of Turkey.

The Economist

It was prompted by the FARC's kidnapping of a senator.

The Economist

On Wednesday the sell-off was prompted by mining shares.

Independent

And somehow I was prompted to seize the moment.

The New Yorker

School officials surmised that the attack was prompted by revenge.

The New York Times

The N.H.T.S.A. investigation was prompted by complaints from 23 owners.

The New York Times

EchoStar executives said the investigation was prompted by customer complaints.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "was prompted", ensure the sentence clearly indicates the cause or reason that initiated the action. This enhances clarity and avoids ambiguity for the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "was prompted" without specifying the prompting factor. For instance, instead of saying "The decision was prompted", specify "The decision was prompted by the new evidence" to provide context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was prompted" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that an action or event was initiated or caused by something else. It emphasizes the cause-and-effect relationship, highlighting the stimulus that led to a particular outcome. Ludwig provides numerous examples illustrating this function.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Academia

33%

Science

26%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "was prompted" is a frequently used passive voice construction that indicates causation or initiation. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically sound and widely applicable across various contexts, particularly in news, academic, and scientific writing. To use it effectively, ensure clarity by specifying the prompting factor, thereby avoiding ambiguity. Common alternatives include "was initiated by" or "was caused by", which can be chosen based on the nuance you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was initiated by

Focuses on the start or beginning of something due to a cause, similar to being prompted.

was triggered by

Emphasizes a reaction or response caused by a specific event or action.

was caused by

Highlights the direct cause-and-effect relationship between two events.

resulted from

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

stemmed from

Suggests that something originated or developed from a particular source or cause.

arose from

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

was spurred by

Focuses on the encouragement or motivation that led to a particular action or event.

was instigated by

Highlights the initiation of an action, often with a negative or adversarial connotation.

was induced by

Suggests that something was persuaded or influenced to happen by external factors.

was motivated by

Emphasizes the reason or incentive that drove a particular action or decision.

FAQs

How can I use "was prompted" in a sentence?

Use "was prompted" to indicate that an action or decision was initiated or caused by something else. For example, "The investigation "was prompted by complaints"".

What are some alternatives to using "was prompted"?

You can use alternatives such as "was initiated by", "was caused by", or "resulted from" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "was prompted to"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct. It indicates that someone or something was encouraged or influenced to do something. For example, "He "was prompted to investigate" the matter further".

What's the difference between "was prompted by" and "was motivated by"?

"Was prompted by" suggests that something triggered an action or decision, while "was motivated by" implies that there was a reason or incentive behind it. For example, the investigation "was prompted by the evidence", but "was motivated by a desire" to find the truth.