attributable to

USAGE SUMMARY

"attributable to" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to describe something that can be credited or assigned to a particular cause. For example, "The success of the project was attributable to the hard work of the team."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Recent growth is largely attributable to immigration.

Encyclopedia Britannica

That may be attributable to the economy.

The New York Times

Attributable to rotation of earth.

The New Yorker

Deaths attributable to marijuana are very rare.

The New York Times

"It's not attributable to one season.

The New York Times

"It's not attributable to rust," Pennington said.

The New York Times - Sports

differences between individuals are attributable to heredity.

The New York Times - Magazine

It is overwhelmingly attributable to a broken health care system.

The New York Times

(This might have been attributable to self-selection bias).

The New Yorker

Neither of these phenomena is easily attributable to conservative policies.

The New Yorker

Doors opening on moving trains are not attributable to conductors.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "attributable to" when you want to formally assign a cause or reason to a specific outcome or characteristic. For example, "The increase in sales is directly attributable to the new marketing campaign."

Common error

Avoid using "attributable to" in overly passive constructions. Instead of saying "The error was attributable to a lack of training", consider "A lack of training caused the error" for a more direct and impactful statement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "attributable to" functions as a causal connector, linking an effect to its cause or origin. It is often used to explain or provide reasons for certain outcomes, as demonstrated by the Ludwig AI examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

35%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Academia

2%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "attributable to" is a versatile phrase used to indicate causality, assigning a reason or cause to a specific outcome. Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically correct and commonly used, particularly in news, scientific, and encyclopedic contexts. While similar phrases like "due to" or "caused by" exist, "attributable to" often provides a more formal and analytical tone. When writing, avoid overly passive constructions and ensure clear causal relationships to use this phrase effectively.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

due to

A more general and common phrase for indicating cause.

because of

A common and straightforward way to indicate cause.

owing to

A more formal alternative to "due to".

caused by

Directly indicates causation.

a consequence of

Highlights the outcome as a direct result of something else.

as a result of

Emphasizes the consequence of a cause.

resulting from

Focuses on the outcome or effect.

arising from

Implies that something has emerged from a particular source.

on account of

A slightly more archaic and formal way to express causation.

stemming from

Suggests a more indirect or underlying cause.

FAQs

How to use "attributable to" in a sentence?

"Attributable to" is used to indicate the cause or origin of something. For example, "The company's success is "attributable to" its innovative products."

What can I say instead of "attributable to"?

You can use alternatives like "due to", "caused by", or "owing to" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "attributable to" or "attributed to"?

"Attributable to" describes the cause, while "attributed to" describes the act of assigning a cause. For example, "The disease is attributable to a virus" versus "The discovery was attributed to the scientist".

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

"Attributable to" indicates a direct causal relationship, whereas "related to" suggests a connection or association that may not be causal. "The increase in profits is "attributable to" the new marketing strategy" implies the strategy caused the increase. Saying it's "related to" only suggests a connection.