attribute

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'attribute' is correct and can be used in written English.
It is typically used as a verb meaning to assign a quality or characteristic to something or someone, or to believe something is caused by someone or something specific. For example: "I attribute my success to hard work and dedication."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It would appear that the paper picked up the Mail Online story and, against normal internal rules, did not attribute it to Mail Online.

The Guardian

Once class identity comes to be seen as a cultural attribute, then those regarded as culturally different have come to be viewed as threats.

The Guardian - Opinion

While it may be tempting to attribute this to the notion that the Democratic party machine and rank-and-file are simply more open and accepting of women in top leadership roles, the real answer is more complex.

The Guardian - Opinion

I often wonder whether the unfathomably superior tastes I attribute to home-grown veg come from my heart rather than my taste buds, but Hicks assures me that it'll be because the food is picked at peak ripeness and eaten immediately.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Putin is still widely expected to win the presidential election on 4 March and remains the country's most popular politician, something his critics attribute to the state's monopoly on television and access to politics.

The Guardian

Some online sources attribute this to the 1949 John Wayne film She Wore A Yellow Ribbon (what Wayne actually said in that film was "Never apologise, mister – it's a sign of weakness"), but its antecedents are murky.

The Guardian - Books

Senior security and immigration officials have expressed confidence that this summer will not see a repeat of those scenes: fewer people are attempting to cross the border, a result which officials attribute to a successful campaign in Central America to persuade would-be migrants that even if they reach the US, they will have little prospect of remaining.

The Guardian

"The problem is, you might begin to attribute your desire to maintain the relationship not to your partner, but to this substance," Bartz says.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Harrison said it was impossible to attribute Costa's increasingly strong performance to the controversy surrounding Starbucks's tax affairs, but he noted that Costa had enjoyed a record week last week, with UK stores – excluding franchised shops – taking £10m and attracting 3.8m customers.

The Guardian - Business

When the results improved, he said, critics would attribute the changes to the decision to switch some pupils from GCSEs to the less academic B-Techs.

The Guardian

The accounts attribute the fall in part to success the previous year with re-released Beatles classics, stating: "A significant contributor to this decline is in Recorded Music due to the success of the Beatles Remastered in the prior year".

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Be mindful of the connotation of "attribute". While generally neutral, it can sometimes imply uncertainty or speculation, so choose it carefully based on your intended meaning.

Common error

Avoid attributing an effect to a single cause when multiple factors are likely involved. Acknowledge the complexity of causation by using phrases like "contribute to" or "play a role in" to show the role of multiple factors.

Linguistic Context

The word "attribute" functions as both a verb and a noun. As a verb, it means to assign a quality or characteristic to someone or something. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in written English. As a noun, it refers to a characteristic or quality.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

25%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "attribute" is a versatile term used as both a verb and a noun, denoting the assignment of a quality or the inherent quality itself. Ludwig AI validates its grammatical correctness and provides numerous examples across diverse contexts. Its frequency is high, especially in "news & media", "formal & business", and "science", suggesting its wide applicability in professional writing. When using "attribute", clarity and logical connections are key, and writers should be mindful of the potential for misattributing causality. Consider alternatives like "ascribe to" or "assign to" for nuanced meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ascribe to

Emphasizes assigning a quality or characteristic to something.

impute to

Suggests assigning responsibility, often for something negative.

assign to

Focuses on the act of formally giving something a specific role or quality.

credit to

Highlights giving recognition or praise for an achievement.

chalk up to

Implies attributing something to a particular cause, often in a casual way.

put down to

Similar to "chalk up to", suggesting a causal relationship.

relate to

Focuses on establishing a connection or association.

connect with

Emphasizes making a connection or finding a relationship.

associate with

Highlights a general connection or relationship.

refer to

Simply directs attention or points to something.

FAQs

How do I use "attribute" in a sentence?

You can use "attribute" to assign a quality to someone or something, as in "I attribute my success to hard work". It can also mean to believe something is caused by a particular thing: "The power outage was attributed to the storm".

What's a good alternative to "attribute"?

Depending on the context, you could use "ascribe to", "impute to", or "assign to". Each has a slightly different nuance.

What's the difference between "attribute" and "ascribe"?

"Attribute" generally means to believe something is caused by something else or to consider something as a quality of something else. "Ascribe", like "attribute", means to assign or credit something to a cause or source, but it is often used when the cause or source is less certain or definite.

Is it correct to say "attribute to" or "attribute with"?

The correct preposition to use with "attribute" is "to". So, you would say "attribute to", as in "I attribute the delay to unforeseen circumstances".