attribute fault to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "attribute fault to" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the act of assigning blame or responsibility for a mistake or problem 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

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

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

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

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

"It was an entirely valid and appropriate hiring with no fault to be attributed in connection with the hiring decision," Mr. Millus said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "attribute fault to", ensure that you have sufficient evidence or a clear basis for assigning blame or responsibility. Avoid making assumptions without proper investigation.

Common error

Avoid attributing fault to entire groups or categories of people based on the actions of a few. This can lead to unfair generalizations and prejudice.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "attribute fault to" functions as a transitive verb phrase, indicating the act of assigning blame or responsibility for a specific action or outcome. It implies a causal relationship where the fault is being connected to a person, entity, or factor. Ludwig AI indicates the phrase is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "attribute fault to" is a grammatically sound and commonly used transitive verb phrase. According to Ludwig AI, it is correct and usable in written English. It serves the purpose of assigning blame or responsibility, often within neutral to formal contexts like scientific reports and news articles. While alternatives like "assign blame to" or "hold responsible for" exist, "attribute fault to" maintains a specific nuance suitable for analytical discussions regarding causation and accountability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

assign blame to

This alternative directly indicates the act of assigning blame.

place the blame on

This option puts emphasis on the act of placing blame.

hold responsible for

This highlights the act of holding someone accountable.

pin the blame on

This suggests an attempt to directly assign fault.

ascribe blame to

This is a more formal way of assigning blame.

lay the fault at someone's door

This idiom means to assign blame or responsibility.

impute fault to

A formal synonym suggesting an accusation of wrongdoing.

charge with fault

This phrase implies a formal accusation of fault.

consider culpable

Indicates viewing someone as deserving blame.

hold accountable

Focuses on making someone answerable for their actions or the actions of others.

FAQs

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

You can use "attribute fault to" when you want to assign blame or responsibility for something. For example: "The investigation tried to attribute fault to the company for the accident."

What is a more formal alternative to "attribute fault to"?

A more formal alternative to "attribute fault to" could be "ascribe blame to", which carries a similar meaning but sounds more professional.

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

"Assign blame to" and "attribute fault to" are quite similar, with subtle differences. "Assign blame to" is often used when directly accusing someone, while "attribute fault to" can be used more broadly to indicate the cause of a problem.

What are some different ways to phrase the act of assigning responsibility?

Alternatives to assigning responsibility include "hold responsible for", "place the blame on", or "hold accountable" depending on the specific context.