what induced

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "what induced" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when asking about the cause or reason behind a particular action or event. Example: "What induced her to make that decision?" Alternative expressions include "what prompted" and "what led to."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

What induced you to put him together with James Gray?

The New Yorker

"We still haven't got a clue as to what induced him to act in this way," Colonel Hirsch said.

The New York Times

Writer spent an evening with the Harvard oarsmen, to learn what induced them to give so much of their time to this cryptic, unpublic, and intensely demanding sport.

The New Yorker

He went on, "What induced me to 'take over,' as I did, after she broke her hipbone, early in 1964, was mainly the fact that nobody really made a move to do something.

The New Yorker

We're not told anything about his social situation and what induced him to turn to crime, other than a reference to the fact that drugs may have been involved.

The Guardian

But if she suffered so much during the "Time Stands Still" run, what induced her to do another drama, let alone her first Shakespeare?

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

What induces actors to play real-life criminals in lurid reconstructions?

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Self-interest, not self-sacrifice, is what induces noticeable change.

The New York Times

What induces so many of its artistic luminaries to define themselves in terms of the personal, cultural, and political past?

The New Yorker

What induces him to make a meaningless suicidal bet with his drug dealer to drive his car to San Francisco in an impossibly short time?

The New York Times

What induces them to stay on when we have 85,000 kids right now who don't have classrooms and the number keeps growing because the city is a magnet?

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "what induced", consider the level of formality required. While grammatically correct, it can sound slightly formal. In casual settings, simpler alternatives like "what caused" might be more appropriate.

Common error

Avoid using "what induced" in very informal conversations. It can sound stilted or overly academic. Instead, opt for more conversational phrases like "what made you do that?"

Linguistic Context

The phrase "what induced" functions as an interrogative phrase, primarily used to inquire about the cause, reason, or motive behind a specific action, event, or decision. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

37%

Encyclopedias

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "what induced" serves as an interrogative phrase to ask about the cause or reason behind an event. It is deemed grammatically correct by Ludwig AI, although it carries a slightly formal tone. Suitable alternatives include phrases such as "what caused" or "what led to". While versatile, it's best to reserve "what induced" for contexts where a degree of formality is appropriate. The phrase appears most frequently in News & Media, Science and Encyclopedias.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

what caused

Directly replaces "induced" with "caused", focusing on the immediate reason.

what led to

Emphasizes the sequence of events culminating in the action.

what prompted

Highlights the instigating factor behind the action.

what motivated

Focuses on the underlying reasons and desires that drove the action.

what brought about

Suggests a more significant and comprehensive causation.

what gave rise to

Similar to "brought about" but emphasizes the origin or beginning.

what was the reason for

A more direct and explicit way of asking about the reason.

what were the grounds for

Emphasizes the justification or basis for the action.

what circumstances led to

Focuses on the specific conditions that resulted in the action.

why did it happen

A simpler, more general way to inquire about the cause.

FAQs

What does "what induced" mean?

The phrase "what induced" means what caused or what led to something. It's used to ask about the reasons or factors that brought about a particular event or action.

How can I use "what induced" in a sentence?

You can use "what induced" to inquire about the cause or motive behind an action. For example, "What induced him to change his mind so suddenly?"

What can I say instead of "what induced"?

You can use alternatives like "what caused", "what led to", or "what prompted" depending on the context.

Is "what induced" formal or informal?

The phrase "what induced" is considered relatively formal. In more casual settings, simpler alternatives like "what made" or "what caused" might be more appropriate.