ascribe to

USAGE SUMMARY

"ascribe to" is a correct and usable expression in written English.
It is generally used to mean "to attribute (something) to (someone or something)." For example, "We must ascribe the success of the project to the hard work of the team."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I ascribe to it.

The New York Times

"Chaplains ascribe to pluralism.

The New York Times

They ascribe to the notion of forgiveness.

The New York Times - Sports

What actions and intentions do I ascribe to these entities?

The Guardian - Opinion

What properties do I ascribe to these entities?

The Guardian - Opinion

This effect we ascribe to something we call 'Dark Energy'.

The Guardian

For those who ascribe to kindergarten principles, this is disheartening.

The New York Times

It was hard to know how much blame to ascribe to Mr. Moser.

The New York Times - Arts

Keane himself called the fuss "embarrassing", an appraisal we can only partly ascribe to self-deprecation.

The Guardian - Sport

Art only has the power we ascribe to it, Antonioni seems to be saying, cinema especially.

The Guardian - Film

'It ends up scraping away all the identity you ascribe to yourself.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "ascribe to" when you want to attribute a quality, belief, or action to a person, group, or thing based on inference or association. It's useful for explaining motivations or causes.

Common error

Avoid using "ascribe to" when there's no clear basis for the attribution. Ensure you have reasonable grounds before connecting something to a specific source or cause to avoid unfounded claims.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ascribe to" functions primarily as a verb phrase that connects a subject with a quality, belief, or action. Ludwig AI confirms that is a usable expression in written English. It serves to attribute something to a specific source, often implying a degree of inference or association.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

32%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

3%

Social Media

7%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "ascribe to" is a versatile phrase used to attribute qualities, beliefs, or actions to specific sources. Ludwig AI validated its correctness and usability in written English. Its frequency across various contexts—from News & Media to Science and Formal & Business—underscores its relevance in diverse forms of communication. While similar alternatives like "attribute to" or "subscribe to" exist, "ascribe to" carries a distinct nuance that is valuable in professional writing and academic discourse. Be sure to use it when the intention is to draw an association based on deduction, not on evident facts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

subscribe to

Indicates agreement with or support for a particular idea or belief.

attribute to

Focuses more on assigning a cause or characteristic.

adhere to

Highlights sticking to a principle or rule.

assign to

Emphasizes the act of allocating or designating something.

impute to

Suggests attributing something, often a fault or responsibility.

ascribe importance to

Focuses on the level of significance someone places on something.

credit to

Highlights giving recognition or praise for something.

chalk up to

Implies attributing something to a specific cause, often informally.

put down to

Similar to chalk up to but may carry a more neutral tone.

hold to

Implies maintaining a belief or principle.

FAQs

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

You can use "ascribe to" to indicate attributing a particular quality, belief, or action to someone or something. For instance, "They "ascribe to" the men of the preceding age a wisdom more than human".

What's a good alternative to "ascribe to"?

Alternatives include "attribute to", "assign to", or "subscribe to", depending on the specific context in which you're using the phrase.

Is there a difference between "ascribe to" and "attribute to"?

While similar, "ascribe to" often implies a degree of inference or association, whereas "attribute to" is more direct in assigning a cause or characteristic. For example, you might "ascribe to" someone a certain motive based on their actions, but "attribute to" a specific cause to a scientific outcome.

When is it appropriate to use "ascribe to" rather than a simpler verb like "believe"?

Use "ascribe to" when you want to emphasize the act of attributing a belief or quality from an external point of view, rather than simply stating someone's belief. It adds a layer of analysis or interpretation. "Believe" is more direct.