accounted for by

USAGE SUMMARY

"accounted for by" is correct and usable in written English.
For example, you could use it in a sentence such as: "The drop in sales was accounted for by changes in the market."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Lemon is present and accounted for by a lemon Bavarian.

The New York Times - Food

Moreover, the difference was largely accounted for by something strange.

The Economist

This delay may be accounted for by three factors.

Encyclopedia Britannica

But he admitted some of the jobs in housing could be accounted for by transfers.

The Guardian

Were two electricity trades that seemingly canceled each other out properly accounted for by Enron?

The New York Times

Most of this difference is accounted for by short-term migration.

The Guardian - Opinion

All but 15 of those had been accounted for by late yesterday afternoon.

The New York Times

Nearly two-thirds of Billboard magazine's modern rock songs chart is accounted for by such bands.

The New York Times - Arts

The organisation says fees are fully accounted for by overheads, administration and operating costs.

The Guardian

Only about 11% of flights abroad are now accounted for by business travel.

The Guardian

Most of the loss was accounted for by a drop in contributions from major donors.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In scientific or technical writing, "accounted for by" is effective for indicating that a phenomenon is explained or caused by specific factors or mechanisms. Use it to present findings or explain results systematically.

Common error

Avoid using "accounted for by" in overly passive constructions that obscure the agent. For example, instead of saying "Mistakes were accounted for by insufficient training", a clearer alternative is "Insufficient training accounted for the mistakes."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "accounted for by" functions as a prepositional phrase that introduces the cause, reason, or explanation for a particular phenomenon. It signifies that something is explained or justified by the factors that follow. As Ludwig shows, this phrase appears in numerous contexts to provide clarity and understanding.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

37%

News & Media

56%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "accounted for by" is a versatile prepositional phrase used to introduce explanations or causes across various contexts. Grammatically correct and very common, as confirmed by Ludwig, it's particularly prevalent in science and news media, though less so in informal settings. To enhance clarity, avoid overly passive constructions. Alternatives like "explained by", "attributed to", and "caused by" offer similar meanings. Use this phrase to clearly indicate the reasons behind phenomena in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

explained by

Focuses more directly on providing an explanation.

attributed to

Highlights the causal relationship or origin.

caused by

Emphasizes the cause-and-effect relationship.

resulted from

Highlights the outcome of a process or event.

due to

Indicates a direct reason or cause.

represented by

Focuses on symbolizing or standing for something else.

constituted by

Emphasizes composition or formation.

comprised of

Indicates that something is made up of specific elements.

justified by

Focuses on providing a rationale or reason.

underpinned by

Suggests a foundational support or basis.

FAQs

How can I use "accounted for by" in a sentence?

Use "accounted for by" to indicate that something is explained or caused by a specific factor. For example, "The increase in sales was "accounted for by" a successful marketing campaign".

What are some alternatives to "accounted for by"?

Alternatives include "explained by", "attributed to", or "caused by". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it better to say "explained by" or "accounted for by"?

Both "explained by" and "accounted for by" are correct, but "explained by" is often more direct. "Accounted for by" can be more appropriate when you want to emphasize that something has been considered and included in an explanation.

What's the difference between "accounted for by" and "due to"?

"Accounted for by" usually implies a comprehensive explanation, while "due to" simply indicates a direct cause. For example, "The delay was "due to" a mechanical failure" focuses on the cause, whereas "The changes were "accounted for by" several factors" suggests a more detailed analysis.