would have triggered

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "would have triggered" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe a hypothetical situation in the past that did not occur but could have led to a specific outcome. Example: "If the alarm had been set, it would have triggered a response from the security team."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"In Germany, this would have triggered lawsuits".

The New York Times

Such quakes would have triggered downslope transport of unconsolidated sediments.

University of California, Berkeley

It would have triggered panic in the community".

The New York Times

Otherwise, it would have triggered all kinds of speculation".

The New York Times

For them, a default would have triggered costly insurance claims.

The New York Times

"If this position were in our database, it would have triggered a cautionary flag".

The New York Times

"It was obvious that what was happening in the country would have triggered bloodshed," he said.

The New York Times

To much of the outside world, the analyst's comparison would have triggered incredulity.

The Guardian - Opinion

The wider war they would have triggered would have turned hard and bloody, however.

The New Yorker

That would have triggered a "big fight" with national governments, he concedes.

The Economist

Such a decision would have triggered a two-game suspension for the Celtic captain.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "would have triggered" to describe a hypothetical past event and its likely consequence. Ensure the context clearly establishes the hypothetical nature of the situation.

Common error

Avoid using "would have triggered" when referring to a present or future event. This phrase is specifically for past hypothetical situations; for present or future hypotheticals, use "would trigger" or "will trigger" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "would have triggered" functions as a hypothetical perfect modal verb phrase. It describes an action that would have occurred in the past, contingent on a condition that was not met. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is correct and usable in English to express hypothetical past events.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

71%

Science

16%

Academia

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "would have triggered" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to depict hypothetical past events and their likely consequences. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. It is most commonly found in news and media, science and academic contexts, suggesting a neutral register suitable for both formal and informal communication. When writing, remember to use this phrase exclusively for past hypothetical scenarios and consider alternatives like "would have caused" or "would have prompted" for variety.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

would have caused

Changes the verb to "caused", emphasizing direct causation.

would have prompted

Replaces "triggered" with "prompted", suggesting initiation or encouragement of an action.

would have initiated

Substitutes "triggered" with "initiated", focusing on the commencement of a process.

would have sparked

Uses "sparked" instead of "triggered", indicating a sudden or energetic beginning.

would have set off

Replaces "triggered" with the phrasal verb "set off", implying activation or commencement.

would have given rise to

Offers a more formal alternative, indicating that something would have led to a particular outcome.

would have brought about

Similar to "given rise to", but with a slightly different emphasis on the action of causing something.

would have resulted in

Focuses on the consequence or outcome that would have occurred.

would have led to

A more direct way of saying something would have caused a particular result.

would have generated

Suggests that something would have produced or created a particular result.

FAQs

How can I use "would have triggered" in a sentence?

Use "would have triggered" to describe a past hypothetical situation and its consequence, for example: "If the sensor had detected smoke, it "would have triggered" the alarm system."

What are some alternatives to "would have triggered"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "would have caused", "would have prompted", or "would have initiated".

Is there a difference between "would trigger" and "would have triggered"?

"Would trigger" refers to a present or future hypothetical situation, while "would have triggered" refers to a past hypothetical situation. For instance: "If he presses the button, it would trigger the sequence" (present/future); "If he had pressed the button, it "would have triggered" the sequence" (past).

When should I use "would have triggered" instead of "triggered"?

Use "triggered" when describing an actual event that happened in the past. Use "would have triggered" when describing a hypothetical event that did not actually happen. Example: "The alarm triggered when the door opened" (actual event); "The alarm "would have triggered" if the door had been opened" (hypothetical event).