attributable only to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "attributable only to" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to specify that something is the result of a single cause or source, emphasizing exclusivity. Example: "The success of the project is attributable only to the hard work and dedication of the team."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

36 human-written examples

But Mr. Zegarelli acknowledges that the delay is not attributable only to the developers.

The New York Times

"Grotesque little creatures" is her phrase, but "an unclassifiable but somehow pleasing animal" and "inhuman yet endearing" are in the third person, attributable only to Lowry.

The New Yorker

Moreover, the euro is still stronger than its average value since 2001, which suggests that the recent German success is not attributable only to a falling currency.

The New York Times

This combination of circumstances gives rise to the ramjet, a jet engine in which the pressure increase is attributable only to the ram effect of the high flight speed; no turbomachinery is involved, and the main thrust producer is an afterburner.

Encyclopedia Britannica

However, the results indicated that the influence of leadership on the ILT of the VET-students was attributable only to supervisors', and not to teachers' leadership.

Empirical Research in Vocational Education and Training

If one is neutral about whether God exists, then omnipotence should not be assumed to be attributable only to the God of traditional Western theism or only to an essentially omnipotent being.

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

23 human-written examples

Based on the current data, the observed increase in overall incidence rates was attributable only marginally to improvements in case ascertainment and diagnostic procedures.

Cancer

That is attributable not only to Mr. Spano but also to the organization's commitment to keeping lines of communication open, particularly with its musicians.

The New York Times - Arts

The increase in American weapons sales around the world "was attributable not only to major new orders from clients in the Near East and in Asia, but also to the continuation of significant equipment and support services contracts with a broad-based number of U.S. clients globally," according to the study, titled "Conventional Arms Transfers to Developing Nations".

The New York Times

What has transpired since then is attributable not only to Dean's talent and energy but to a concatenation of fortuitous factors, including certain types of luck that no one should ever hope for — most notably, the ongoing chaos in Iraq.

The New Yorker

Indeed, in these regions, bands attributable not only to paper samples, but also to oil, are present [21, 38].

Chemistry Central Journal

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "attributable only to" to clearly and definitively state that a specific outcome or effect has a single, identifiable cause. This phrase helps avoid ambiguity when discussing complex relationships.

Common error

Avoid using "attributable only to" in casual conversation or informal writing. Simpler phrases like "just because of" or "only due to" are more appropriate in those settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "attributable only to" functions as a prepositional phrase used to specify the sole cause or reason for a particular outcome or situation. Ludwig AI examples demonstrate its use in formal and scientific contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

70%

News & Media

20%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "attributable only to" is a prepositional phrase employed to denote a singular cause for a given effect. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage in formal and scientific writing. While not as prevalent in everyday language, it effectively eliminates ambiguity by emphasizing that the specified cause is the sole factor. When striving for precision and clarity, "attributable only to" provides a valuable tool for conveying singular causation, as demonstrated by the examples from sources such as The New York Times and scientific journals.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Solely attributable to

Emphasizes that something is the single and exclusive cause; more concise.

Exclusively attributable to

Highlights the exclusivity of the cause, adding a degree of formality.

Attributable purely to

Replaces "only" with "purely" to emphasize the lack of any other contributing factors.

Due solely to

Uses "due" instead of "attributable", making the phrase more direct and slightly less formal.

Resulting exclusively from

Shifts the focus to the outcome and its exclusive origin.

A consequence solely of

Presents the situation as a consequence with a stronger emphasis on the effect.

Explainable only by

Focuses on the ability to explain something based on a single factor.

Traceable solely to

Implies an investigation or tracing back to the single cause.

Attributed entirely to

Replaces "only" with "entirely" to stress the completeness of the attribution.

Deriving exclusively from

Presents the situation as exclusively stemming or originating from a single source.

FAQs

How can I use "attributable only to" in a sentence?

Use "attributable only to" to indicate that an effect or outcome is caused by a single, specific factor. For example, "The improved test scores were "attributable only to" the new teaching method".

What's a more casual way to say "attributable only to"?

In informal contexts, you could use phrases like "only because of", "just down to", or "simply due to" instead of ""attributable only to"".

Is it redundant to say "solely attributable only to"?

Yes, using both "solely" and "only" is redundant. "Solely attributable to" or ""attributable only to"" is sufficient to convey the meaning of a single cause.

What's the difference between "attributable to" and "attributable only to"?

"Attributable to" suggests that something is a contributing factor, while ""attributable only to"" specifies that it's the sole and exclusive cause. The inclusion of "only" emphasizes that no other factors are involved.