are ascribed to

USAGE SUMMARY

"are ascribed to" is a perfectly acceptable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you wish to attribute something to a particular source or cause. For example, "Many of the successful changes we have seen in our community are ascribed to the hard work of our local government."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Some 34,814 are ascribed to murder.

The Guardian

These are ascribed to different experimental procedures and techniques.

Clinical Neurophysiology

Seven thousand deaths a year are ascribed to tobacco-related illnesses in Ireland.

The New York Times

Many of the offenses committed by the city's Muslim residents are ascribed to their alien culture.

The New Yorker

Three large Crucifixions are ascribed to the same master, whose signature can be traced on them.

Britannica

The colours red, green, and blue are ascribed to quarks, and their opposites, antired, antigreen, and antiblue, are ascribed to antiquarks.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The values measured are ascribed to the shell elements.

Acta Materialia

These anomalies are ascribed to the paramagnetic effects.

Electrochimica Acta

These results are ascribed to a bimetallic formation.

Catalysis Today

Inferior values are ascribed to defect-rich or semiconducting scrolls.

Carbon

Short-term changes in the Earth's magnetic field are ascribed to electric currents in the ionosphere.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "are ascribed to", ensure that the attribution is supported by evidence or logical reasoning to maintain credibility in your writing.

Common error

Avoid overuse of passive constructions like "are ascribed to" if a more direct, active voice construction would make your writing more concise and impactful. For example, instead of "The successes are ascribed to teamwork", consider "Teamwork led to the successes".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "are ascribed to" functions as a passive construction, indicating that certain qualities, characteristics, or outcomes are attributed to a specific cause or source. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically sound and suitable for various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

52%

News & Media

27%

Encyclopedias

15%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "are ascribed to" is a grammatically correct passive construction used to attribute qualities, characteristics, or outcomes to specific causes or sources. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is appropriate for various contexts. It is most frequently found in scientific and news publications, indicating a formal register. For more direct and impactful writing, consider using active voice constructions. Remember to ensure that the attribution is backed by evidence or logical reasoning to maintain credibility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

are attributed to

Uses 'attributed' instead of 'ascribed', implying a slightly more direct assignment of cause or characteristic.

are caused by

Directly states that something is the reason or origin of a particular event or condition.

are due to

Clearly indicates a direct cause-and-effect relationship, often used to explain reasons for events or phenomena.

are credited to

Emphasizes the recognition or acknowledgement of someone's contribution or cause.

are assigned to

Suggests a formal or deliberate allocation or designation to a specific category or cause.

result from

Highlights the outcome or consequence of a particular action or event.

are linked to

Indicates a connection or association between two things, often implying a causal relationship.

are associated with

Implies a correlation or frequent co-occurrence, without necessarily indicating direct causation.

stem from

Suggests that something originates or arises from a particular source or cause.

arise from

Indicates that something emerges or originates from a specific source or condition.

FAQs

How do I use "are ascribed to" in a sentence?

Use "are ascribed to" to indicate that certain qualities, characteristics, or events are attributed to a particular cause or source. For example, "The improvements in test scores "are ascribed to" the new teaching methods".

What are some alternatives to "are ascribed to"?

You can use alternatives such as "are attributed to", "are credited to", or "are due to" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to use an active or passive voice with "are ascribed to"?

While "are ascribed to" is a passive construction and grammatically correct, consider using an active voice for stronger writing. For example, instead of "The benefits "are ascribed to" the new policy", you could say "The new policy brought the benefits".

What's the difference between "are ascribed to" and "are attributed to"?

Both phrases indicate attribution, but "are ascribed to" often implies a less direct or certain connection than "are attributed to". "Ascribe" can suggest assigning something based on belief or opinion, while "attribute" suggests a more demonstrable connection.