ascribe importance to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "ascribe importance to" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to emphasize the importance or value of something. For example, "She always tried to ascribe importance to her family, even when she was very busy."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Gene-culture coevolutionary studies ascribe importance to human cultural adaptations as endogenous agents of environment transformation, with down-the-line effects in the genome.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

Theories of constitutional interpretation come in a variety of forms, but they all seem, in one way or another, to ascribe importance to a number of key factors: textual or semantic meaning; political, social and legal history; intention; original understanding; and moral/political theory.

SEP

Each of these theories ascribe importance to "fear of fear" as a maintaining factor.

BMC Psychiatry

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Not only do all three faiths ascribe overwhelming importance to a set of divinely inspired writings, but the content of these writings overlaps.

The Economist

SINCE arguments about God have run for thousands of years, it is a little peculiar to ascribe overwhelming importance to the publication of Darwin's "On the Origin of Species" in 1859.

The Economist

So Sir John admires the traditionalism and rigour of Pope Benedict just as he admires the traditionalism and rigour of the equivalent schools of Islam and Judaism.Fine but how far is it really possible for people who disagree about a matter to which they ascribe supreme importance to admire one another's integrity and rigour?

The Economist

"To ascribe any importance to an arbitrary line in the sand detracts from the true drivers of the rally".

Forbes

Neuroscientists ascribe major importance to calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in the pathophysiology of migraine, in view of its vasodilatory effect and role in the transmission of nociception.

The Journal of Headache and Pain

There is some anecdotal evidence that families may ascribe more importance to incidental findings than is warranted.

Genome Medicine

When two sequences show extensive similarity and one of the two has been annotated, transferring that annotation provides an easy functional prediction; however, even in the complete absence of annotation, alignments can be used to ascribe functional importance to sites and regions in a sequence [ 1].

BMC Genomics

Why have we ascribed such importance to cupcakes and guacamole in 2010?

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "ascribe importance to", ensure that the subject performing the ascribing is clearly identified. This adds clarity and authority to the statement. For example: "Scientists ascribe great importance to data integrity in research."

Common error

Avoid phrasing that obscures who is ascribing the importance. Instead of "Importance is ascribed to..." specify who is doing the ascribing. This makes your writing more direct and impactful.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ascribe importance to" functions as a verb phrase that indicates the act of attributing significance or value to a particular subject. Ludwig AI confirms this, providing examples where the phrase is used to emphasize the perceived importance of various factors.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

4%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "ascribe importance to" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase for emphasizing the significance or value of something. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and provides various examples of its usage. It functions to attribute significance, often in persuasive or informative contexts, and is commonly found in scientific, news, and formal business writing. While generally neutral to formal, its specific and emphatic nature lends itself well to academic, scientific, and professional discourse. To enhance clarity, specify who is ascribing the importance to avoid passive voice constructions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

attribute significance to

Replaces "importance" with "significance", emphasizing the quality of being worthy of attention.

assign value to

Focuses on the act of giving something a specific worth or merit.

attach weight to

Uses "weight" as a metaphor for importance, suggesting that something is considered serious or impactful.

place emphasis on

Highlights the act of stressing or giving particular attention to something.

emphasize the significance of

Directly states the act of making something important more noticeable.

stress the value of

Emphasizes the worth or benefit that something has.

give prominence to

Indicates that something is given a leading or important position.

highlight the relevance of

Focuses on the connection and importance of something in a particular context.

consider crucial

Indicates that something is regarded as essential or critical.

deem significant

Uses "deem" to express the act of judging something as notably important.

FAQs

How can I use "ascribe importance to" in a sentence?

You can use "ascribe importance to" to indicate that someone attributes significance or value to something. For example, "Researchers "ascribe importance to" early childhood education in fostering social skills".

What are some alternatives to "ascribe importance to"?

Alternatives include "attribute significance to", "assign value to", or "place emphasis on", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to use "ascribe importance to" or "give importance to"?

"Ascribe importance to" is generally more formal and implies a considered judgment, while "give importance to" is simpler and more direct. The best choice depends on the context and desired tone.

What does it mean to "ascribe importance to" something?

To "ascribe importance to" something means to attribute significance, value, or a high degree of relevance to it. It suggests that you believe that thing is worthy of attention or consideration.