were caused by

USAGE SUMMARY

'were caused by' is correct and can be used in written English.
For example, "The power outages in the city were caused by an unexpected storm."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Some were caused by unexpected developments overseas.

The New York Times

Some mistakes were caused by operator error.

The New York Times - Health

Most injuries were caused by flying glass.

The New York Times

Most were caused by home-canned foods.

The Washington Post

All of those domestic problems were caused by us.

Cornell University

Most of the injuries were caused by flying glass.

The New York Times

They said some wounds were caused by live ammunition.

The New York Times

A lot of wars were caused by debt.

The Guardian

For decades, doctors "knew" that ulcers were caused by stress.

The Guardian - Opinion

Many of these, however, were caused by power tools.

The New York Times

"We believe the injuries were caused by fists and feet".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "were caused by", ensure that the subject and the cause are clearly defined to avoid ambiguity. For example, "The delays were caused by the heavy traffic" is clearer than "Delays were caused by problems."

Common error

Avoid using "were caused by" with overly broad or undefined causes. Instead of saying "Problems were caused by management", specify which management actions or decisions led to the problems.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were caused by" functions as a passive causal connector, indicating that a subject experienced a particular outcome due to a specified cause. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness, showcasing its common usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

36%

Academia

5%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "were caused by" is a grammatically sound and versatile expression used to denote causation. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is frequently employed across various contexts, including news reporting, scientific literature, and academic writing. Its neutral register makes it suitable for both formal and informal communication. When using this phrase, it is crucial to ensure clarity and specificity in identifying the cause to avoid vagueness. For alternative expressions, consider using "resulted from", "stemmed from", or "arose from" to add variety to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were a consequence of

Emphasizes the direct result or effect of a preceding event or action.

resulted from

Focuses on the outcome stemming from a specific cause.

were brought about by

Emphasizes the action that led to a specific outcome.

stemmed from

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

were triggered by

Highlights a specific event that initiated a chain of events.

originated in

Highlights the point of origin or the initial cause.

arose from

Suggests a gradual development or emergence from a particular cause.

were generated by

Focuses on the act of creating or producing a specific effect.

were produced by

Focuses on the action that brought something into existence.

can be attributed to

Indicates the cause is an explanation, not necessarily a direct consequence.

FAQs

How can I use "were caused by" in a sentence?

Use "were caused by" to indicate the origin or reason for something. For example, "The accident was caused by icy roads", or "The company's losses were caused by poor investments".

What are some alternatives to "were caused by"?

You can use alternatives like "resulted from", "stemmed from", or "arose from" depending on the context.

Is it better to use active or passive voice with "were caused by"?

Using the active voice can often make your writing more direct and clear. However, the passive voice with "were caused by" is appropriate when you want to emphasize the effect rather than the cause. For example, "The damage was caused by the storm" focuses on the damage.

What's the difference between "were caused by" and "due to"?

"Were caused by" is a verb phrase that emphasizes the act of causing, while "due to" is a prepositional phrase that introduces a reason or explanation. "The cancellation was caused by the strike" and "The cancellation was due to the strike" are both correct, but they emphasize different aspects of the situation.