are attributed by

USAGE SUMMARY

"are attributed by" is correct and can be used in written English.
This phrase typically indicates that something is being credited to a specific person or group. Example: Many of the recent successes in the field of scientific research are attributed by the team of graduate students.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 human-written examples

Every year, the leaves fall, and every year passengers face delays that are attributed by train operators to "leaves on the line".

The New York Times

These epic gestations are attributed by awed Tartt admirers and devotees of websites such as Donna Tartt Shrine to uncompromising perfectionism.

The Guardian - Books

No less than other right-wing populists in Europe, he is trying to appeal to voters who are tired of rising violence and street crime, which in the case of the Netherlands are attributed by the police to gangs of immigrants from Morocco, Turkey and the Caribbean.

The New York Times

The correlations observed by this so-called Chicago school between money supply and money income are attributed by their critics to variations in the demand for money to spend, which elicit partial responses from supply and are followed after an interval by corresponding changes in money income.

Britannica

In particularistic religions there is a range of spirits, from sojourning ghosts and mortal witches to perennial beings, whose natures and dispositions are attributed by categories (e.g., mermaids and leprechauns are both usually pictured as irresponsible), but in action individual spirits are independent of one another.

Britannica

PARIS — The long list of crimes all over France, which, rightly or wrongly, are attributed by public opinion to the same gang, was added to yesterday [March 25] when six men murdered a chauffeur at Montgeron, on the road from Paris to Nice, took his automobile, in which they drove to Chantilly, murdered two employés of the Societé Générale branch there and robbed the bank's safe of 49,000fr.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

Mr. Obama will be blamed for that, Republicans argue, and any improvement will be attributed by his opponents to the fiscal discipline Republicans imposed.

The New York Times

The increases were attributed by Mr. Sulzberger to rising production costs.

The New York Times

One of the ex-directory numbers was attributed by Whittamore to Milly's family home.

The Guardian

Later, these carpets were attributed by art historians to Herāt and, more recently, to Indian centres.

Britannica

Supernatural powers have long been attributed by astrologers to certain gemstones.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Prefer active voice construction where possible to enhance clarity and directness in writing. For example, rephrase "the delays are attributed by train operators to leaves on the line" to "train operators attribute the delays to leaves on the line".

Common error

Avoid relying too heavily on passive constructions like "are attributed by", as they can make your writing sound indirect and less engaging. Use active voice whenever possible to create a more dynamic and impactful narrative.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "are attributed by" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that a characteristic, quality, or result is being assigned or credited to a specific agent. It is used to show the source of the attribution, as demonstrated in the Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

33%

Encyclopedias

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "are attributed by" is a grammatically correct passive construction used to designate the source of an attribution or credit. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's suitable for written English, though mindful use of the active voice alternatives is recommended for enhanced clarity and impact. Predominantly found in scientific and news contexts, this phrase serves to provide clear and authoritative sourcing, contributing to more credible and well-supported statements. Remember to emphasize the attribution source and consider active voice alternatives for more direct writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

are credited to

Uses "credited" instead of "attributed", implying recognition for an achievement or quality.

are ascribed to

Similar to attributed but can imply a less definite or more speculative connection.

are caused by

Focuses on direct causation rather than attribution.

stem from

Implies origins and development from a source.

derive from

Indicates the source or origin from which something is obtained.

result from

Highlights the outcome or consequence of something.

arise from

Suggests emergence or origination from a particular source or condition.

are a consequence of

Emphasizes that something is a direct result or effect of something else.

are explained by

Focuses on providing a reason or justification for something.

owe their existence to

Highlights the dependency of one thing on another for its creation or continuation.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "are attributed by" to sound more active?

Consider using active voice constructions like "X attributes Y to Z" or "X credits Y to Z". For example, instead of saying "the success is attributed by the team to hard work", try "the team attributes the success to hard work".

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

"Are attributed to" indicates the recipient of the attribution, while "are attributed by" indicates the source of the attribution. For example, "the discovery is attributed to Marie Curie" versus "the discovery was attributed by the scientific community to Marie Curie".

When is it best to use "are attributed by" in writing?

Use "are attributed by" when you want to emphasize the source of the attribution, particularly when that source is important or authoritative. This is especially useful in academic or journalistic contexts.

What are some alternatives to "are attributed by" that maintain a formal tone?

You can use phrases such as "are credited to", "are ascribed to", or "are explained by" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.