was triggered by

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was triggered by" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It is typically used to indicate the cause or reason for something happening. Example: The protests were triggered by the government's decision to cut funding for education.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

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

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

Perhaps it was triggered by a nuclear accident.

The Guardian - Books

That penalty was triggered by a narrow tax issue.

The Washington Post

The crisis was triggered by far-right leader Geert Wilders.

The Guardian - Business

Instead, Mr Kabila's rebellion was triggered by events outside Zaire.

The Economist

It was triggered by a confluence of flaky rumours.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was triggered by" to clearly indicate the direct cause of an event or reaction. This phrase is particularly effective when you want to highlight the initiating factor.

Common error

Avoid using "was triggered by" repeatedly in sentences describing complex events with multiple contributing factors. Instead, vary your language to reflect the nuances of the causal relationships.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was triggered by" functions as a causal connector, indicating the direct cause or initiating event that led to a particular outcome. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a common construction used to highlight the immediate reason something occurred.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Academia

21%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "was triggered by" is a causal connector widely used to clearly indicate the initiating event of a specific outcome. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and frequently employed in diverse contexts, including news, academic research, and scientific reports. Its neutral register makes it appropriate for a broad audience, while alternative phrases like "was caused by" and "resulted from" offer similar meanings with slight variations in nuance. Remember to use this phrase judiciously, avoiding overuse in complex causal chains, to maintain clarity and precision in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was initiated by

Replaces "triggered" with "initiated", suggesting a formal beginning or start.

was caused by

Focuses on direct causation, replacing "triggered" with a more straightforward "caused".

was prompted by

Highlights what instigated or incited an event, maintaining a similar level of formality.

was set off by

Emphasizes the action of initiating something, similar to "triggered" but with a different verb.

resulted from

Indicates that something happened as a consequence, changing the verb and preposition.

stemmed from

Suggests the origin or root cause of something, offering a more metaphorical alternative.

arose from

Implies that something emerged or originated from a particular cause, replacing "triggered" with "arose".

was sparked by

Uses a more figurative term, "sparked", to indicate the beginning of an event or reaction.

commenced because of

Replaces "was triggered by" with a more explicit causal explanation, emphasizing the reason for commencement.

originated in

Highlights the source or place of origin, focusing on where something began rather than the immediate cause.

FAQs

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

Use "was triggered by" to indicate the direct cause of an event. For example, "The protest "was triggered by" the new policy".

What are some alternatives to "was triggered by"?

You can use alternatives such as "was caused by", "resulted from", or "was prompted by" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "was triggered by" formal or informal?

"Was triggered by" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. However, consider your audience and the overall tone of your writing when choosing the most appropriate phrase.

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

"Was triggered by" implies a direct cause-and-effect relationship, while "was influenced by" suggests a more indirect or contributing factor. The choice depends on the strength of the connection you want to emphasize.