was triggered

USAGE SUMMARY

"was triggered" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an event or feeling that has been caused or initiated by another factor. For example, "The sudden loud noise was triggered by a thunderstorm outside the house."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"I'd say it was triggered by it.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

It was triggered by an energy-saving motion detector.

The New York Times

All that was triggered by what happened in Sydney".

The Guardian - Sport

His question was triggered by a New York Times story.

The Guardian

Something was triggered, and I felt a new spatial awareness.

The New Yorker

Perhaps Tyrone's lymphoma was triggered by our living in Baltimore.

The New York Times

Initial indications suggest it was triggered by drainage.

The Guardian

How much of the change in him was triggered by…?

The Guardian

The recall vote was triggered after Democrats collected 1m signatures.

The Guardian

It was triggered after Democrats collected 1m signatures.

The Guardian

Perhaps it was triggered by a nuclear accident.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To enhance clarity, use "was triggered" in conjunction with specific verbs or nouns that accurately describe the nature of the event. For instance, "the alarm was triggered by motion".

Common error

Avoid using "was triggered" without specifying the actual cause. Instead of saying, "The response was triggered", be specific: "The response was triggered by the new policy".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was triggered" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that an action or event was initiated or caused by something else. As noted by Ludwig, it's a correct and usable phrase in English. The numerous examples demonstrate its widespread use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

25%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "was triggered" is a versatile phrase used to describe the initiation or causation of an event. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and widespread applicability across various domains, including news, science, and general writing. To use this phrase effectively, ensure that both the trigger and the resulting action are clearly defined. By avoiding vague triggers and employing specific language, you can enhance the clarity and impact of your writing. The most authoritative sources that use this expression include The Guardian, The New York Times and The Economist.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was caused by

Directly states the reason or source of the event.

was initiated

Emphasizes the starting point or beginning of an action or process.

resulted from

Highlights the consequence or outcome of a preceding action.

was started

Focuses on the commencement of an activity or event.

was brought about by

Emphasizes the agency or means by which the event was caused.

was set off

Implies a sudden or abrupt beginning, often with a sense of force or impact.

stemmed from

Implies that the action originated or developed from a specific source or root.

was prompted

Suggests that something encouraged or motivated the action.

was sparked

Indicates a sudden and often energetic beginning, like a flame igniting.

arose from

Suggests a gradual development or emergence from a particular origin.

FAQs

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

Use "was triggered" to indicate that something caused an event to begin. For instance, "The protest was triggered by the government's decision".

What can I say instead of "was triggered"?

You can use alternatives like "was initiated", "was caused by", or "was set off" depending on the context.

Is it better to use active or passive voice with "triggered"?

The choice depends on the focus. Active voice (e.g., "The event triggered a response") emphasizes the cause, while passive voice (e.g., "The response was triggered by the event") emphasizes the effect.

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

"Was triggered by" indicates the cause of an event, while "resulted in" indicates the consequence. For example, "The alarm was triggered by smoke" (cause), versus "The smoke resulted in the alarm" (consequence).