accounted

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "accounted" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when something that has happened is considered or thought of in a particular way, or when something is explained or thought about in a particular way. Example sentence: All the expenses for the project were accounted for in the budget.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

A generation ago, Warren says, basics (housing costs, health insurance, transportation, education, and taxes) accounted for fifty-four per cent of the average family's income.

The Economist

Dr James Pickett, head of research and development at the Alzheimer's Society, said better identification of dementia by doctors accounted for the increase, as well as increasing life expectancy.

The Guardian

Where are the £12bn of spending cuts proposed by the Tories coming from (just £2-3bn has been accounted for)? 26.

The Guardian - Opinion

Spain is struggling to overcome the bursting of its property bubble because the sector accounted for almost a quarter of the national economy at the peak of the housing market, three years ago In Greece, meanwhile, unions today closed down public services, grounded flights and held ferries at ports in protest against budget cuts.

The Guardian - Business

Donations from organisations accounted for 56% of the total.

The Guardian

What's more, the psychological trauma that accompanies the act usually makes it difficult for girls to concentrate at school, has accounted for a good number of school dropouts amongst teenage girls.

The Guardian

The Cambridge-educated software entrepreneur also said that HP had otherwise failed to give more detail as to how it had accounted for the write-off and that HP's filing was "now less clear" on how much of the charge was "being attributed to the alleged accounting issues, and how much to other changes in business performance and earnings projections".

The Guardian - Tech

Moreover, significant operating costs were omitted from the TNL company accounts and were instead accounted for in other entities within the News UK group.

The Guardian

He admitted that migrants from European Economic Area - which accounts for anyone from the EU plus Norway and Switzerland - only accounted for "£10million to £20million of costs" that were not recouped from other countries within the EEA.

The Guardian

– the war loan accounted for just under 25% of the national debt.

The Guardian - Business

When issued in February 1917, the 5% war loan of 1929-47 accounted for just over 50% of the national debt.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "accounted", ensure the context clearly indicates whether you mean 'explained', 'constituted', or 'located'. The specific meaning depends heavily on the surrounding words.

Common error

Avoid using incorrect prepositions with "accounted". The most common construction is "accounted for", which means explained or constituted. Using other prepositions can lead to grammatical errors.

Linguistic Context

The verb "accounted" primarily functions as the past tense and past participle of "account", often used to indicate that something has been explained, constituted a part of something, or has been properly recorded or considered. As Ludwig AI confirms, its use is correct and frequent in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Formal & Business

10%

Science

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "accounted" is a versatile verb form primarily functioning to indicate that something has been explained, constituted a part of something, or properly recorded. As Ludwig AI indicates, its usage is grammatically correct and frequent, especially in news and business contexts. To ensure clarity, it's crucial to consider the context when using "accounted", as it can mean either 'explained' or 'constituted'. Common errors involve misusing prepositions. When considering alternatives, words like "explained", "constituted", or "represented" may be suitable depending on the intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

explained

This alternative focuses on providing a reason or cause, simplifying the action to a direct explanation.

constituted

This term specifies the components or elements that form a whole, highlighting composition rather than explanation.

made up

Similar to 'constituted', but less formal and indicates what elements form the whole.

was responsible for

This phrase emphasizes the role or duty in causing or managing something, shifting focus to accountability.

attributed to

Implies assigning a cause or origin to something, usually based on evidence or belief.

ascribed to

Similar to 'attributed to', but often used when the cause is less certain or more speculative.

represented

Indicates that something served as a symbol or equivalent of something else, focusing on symbolic meaning.

covered

Suggests including or dealing with something, often in a comprehensive manner.

cataloged

Focuses on systematically listing or recording items, emphasizing organization and inventory.

dealt with

Indicates managing or handling a situation, issue, or item, focusing on the action taken.

FAQs

How is "accounted for" used in a sentence?

"Accounted for" can mean 'explained' (e.g., The missing money was "explained") or 'constituted' (e.g., Foreign sales "made up" 60% of the company's revenue).

What is a synonym for "accounted for"?

Depending on the context, synonyms for "accounted for" include "explained", "constituted", "was responsible for", or "attributed to".

What's the difference between "accounted for" and "represented"?

"Accounted for" often implies explanation or composition (e.g., Sales "constituted" 70% of revenue), while "represented" suggests serving as a symbol or equivalent.

When should I use "accounted for" instead of "explained"?

Use "accounted for" when you want to convey that something constitutes a part of a whole or when you're tracking resources or items. Use "explained" when you are clarifying reasons or causes.