attribute fault

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "attribute fault" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the act of assigning blame or responsibility for a problem or issue to someone or something. Example: "In the investigation, the committee decided to attribute fault to the management for the oversight that led to the incident."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

There was no requirement to attribute fault to a vehicle in all cases.

BMJ Open

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Attributing fault to others was associated with poorer outcomes.

BMJ Open

When asked who was at fault for high HbA1c results, only 2% of the patients attributed responsibility to their diabetes doctor while 87% attributed fault to themselves.

Diabetes Care

Motor vehicle and motorcycle passengers were categorised in the 'denies fault' group if they attributed fault to another (presumably the driver) despite the police registering their vehicle as at fault for the crash.

BMJ Open

The police and patient were considered to have agreed if the police reported the patient's vehicle at fault and the patient attributed fault to no other person, or vice versa.

BMJ Open

Unfortunately, there are not enough decided cases to predict with any degree of certainty how far the courts in Canada and the United States (U.S). will be prepared to go in attributing fault in research negligence cases to those that have less than a direct connection to the injuries that have been sustained.

BMC Medical Ethics

We all like to believe that narcissistic qualities are evident in others, never ourselves (bear in mind that a classic narcissistic trait is to attribute a fault to everyone except yourself).

The Guardian - Lifestyle

My sense of the sloth of those who attribute all fault and praise in a big news event to one or very few individuals came together back in 1992, when President George H.W. Bush was in effect blamed for not restoring Dade County, Fla., to its pre-Hurricane Andrew strip-mall glory within 36 hours.

Huffington Post

Therefore, the police could attribute no fault to the vehicle in single vehicle crashes.

BMJ Open

Vice-president Letchkov, however, again attributed the fault to the players and expressecd his support for the manager.

The Guardian - Sport

Given his position, it was feasible that Farrell had used his access at Google to somehow bypass the system's trademark filters (among other things), though Google denied this and attributed the fault to human error.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "attribute fault", ensure the context clearly indicates who or what is assigning the blame and to whom or what it is being assigned. For example, instead of saying "Fault was attributed", specify "The committee attributed fault to the manager."

Common error

Avoid using "attribute fault" passively without specifying who is doing the attributing. This can create ambiguity and weaken the statement's impact. Always clarify the source of the attribution.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "attribute fault" functions as a verb phrase followed by a noun phrase. It serves to express the act of assigning responsibility or blame for something. Ludwig AI indicates this phrase is grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

37%

News & Media

33%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "attribute fault" is a grammatically correct and usable expression that conveys the assignment of blame or responsibility. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. While it's not as common as alternatives like "assign blame", it appears in diverse contexts, including science, news, and academia, suggesting a formal to neutral register. When using this phrase, clarity is key; specify who is attributing the fault to avoid ambiguity. For alternative phrasing, consider options like "assign blame" or "place responsibility", depending on the desired tone and context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Assign blame

This alternative is more direct and commonly used in everyday conversation.

Place responsibility

This option is slightly more formal and emphasizes accountability.

Pin the blame

This phrase implies a more forceful or accusatory assignment of fault.

Lay the blame

Similar to "pin the blame" but slightly less forceful.

Ascribe culpability

This alternative is highly formal and often used in legal or academic contexts.

Impute fault

A more formal and less common synonym for "attribute fault".

Hold accountable

This emphasizes the consequences and expectations of responsibility.

Fix responsibility

This phrase suggests a definitive and often official assignment of blame.

Charge with fault

Implies a formal accusation or indictment.

Accuse of fault

Directly indicates the act of blaming someone.

FAQs

How can I use "attribute fault" in a sentence?

Use "attribute fault" to indicate the assignment of blame or responsibility. For example, "The investigation "attributed fault" to the company's negligence".

What's a more formal way to say "attribute fault"?

A more formal alternative is "ascribe culpability" or "impute fault". However, these alternatives might be more suitable for legal or academic contexts.

Is it better to use "attribute fault" or "assign blame"?

"Assign blame" is a more direct and commonly used phrase. "Attribute fault" is slightly more formal but serves the same purpose. The choice depends on the context and desired tone.

What does it mean to "attribute fault"?

To "attribute fault" means to assign responsibility or blame for something, such as an error, mistake, or negative outcome. It involves identifying who or what is responsible for a particular problem.