attributed not to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "attributed not to" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating that something is not credited or assigned to a particular source or person. Example: "The discovery was attributed not to the original researcher, but to a team of scientists who built upon their work."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

32 human-written examples

In Jonas's book, the Lillehammer affair is attributed not to Aviv but to a different cell.

The Guardian - Film

The saying "war is hell" is attributed not to a poet or a preacher but to a general.

The New York Times - Books

SERVANT: An earthquake geologists attributed not to any physical fault lines but to moral fault lines in Californians' depraved consciences.

The New Yorker

She speaks of aggression, exploitation, and recklessness, but these words are often attributed not to her but to "theorists of leadership" and writers of "management literature".

The New Yorker

Even the continued vitality of the US and Germany is attributed not to natives but to migrant talent drawn from less favoured countries.

The Guardian - Opinion

More than 200 lives came to an end in these fields, nearly half attributed not to enemy fire but to heat stroke.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

27 human-written examples

Ezralow was shaken by the incident, which he attributes not to the machinery, but to human error.

The Guardian

His face was bruised and swollen, which SEMAR attributes not to any rough handling but to dings that he had received while sprinting through the dark tunnels beneath Culiacán.

The New Yorker

This change was attributed not only to surface energy but also to the formation mechanism.

Journal of the European Ceramic Society

This success can probably be attributed not only to parental aspirations, but also to strong practices of help between siblings.

Comparative Migration Studies

This difference could be attributed not only to cultural issues but also to religious issues.

BMC Medical Education

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "attributed not to" when you want to explicitly state that something is not the cause, origin, or source of something else, especially when there might be a common misconception or assumption to the contrary.

Common error

Avoid using "attributed not to" in overly passive constructions that obscure the true agent or cause. Ensure the sentence clearly states what the effect is attributed to, not just what it isn't.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "attributed not to" functions as a contrastive attribution, used to explicitly deny one source or cause and often implicitly or explicitly suggest an alternative. As Ludwig AI confirms, this construction is grammatically sound and actively employed in English writing.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Encyclopedias

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "attributed not to" is a grammatically correct phrase used to deny a specific cause or source, often suggesting an alternative. Ludwig AI's analysis confirms its validity and common usage in English writing. It appears frequently in news, scientific, and encyclopedic contexts, indicating a neutral to formal register. When using this phrase, ensure clarity by clearly stating what the effect is attributed to. For stylistic variations, consider alternatives like "not ascribed to", "not credited to", or "not due to", each offering a slightly different nuance. Remember to choose the phrasing that most accurately reflects the intended meaning in your specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not ascribed to

Uses "ascribed" instead of "attributed", maintaining the core meaning of assigning something to a cause or source.

not credited to

Replaces "attributed" with "credited", emphasizing the lack of recognition or acknowledgment of a source.

not assigned to

Substitutes "attributed" with "assigned", focusing on the absence of an official allocation or association.

not due to

Uses "due to" to specify that something is not the result or consequence of a particular factor.

not caused by

Replaces "attributed" with "caused by", highlighting that a particular factor is not the reason for something.

not the result of

Emphasizes that something is not a consequence or outcome of a specific cause.

not linked to

Focuses on the absence of a connection or association with a particular source.

not connected with

Similar to "not linked to", this emphasizes the lack of a relationship or association.

not associated with

Highlights that something is not related or connected to a particular factor.

not derived from

Indicates that something did not originate or come from a specific source.

FAQs

How do I use "attributed not to" in a sentence?

Use "attributed not to" to clarify that something is not caused or created by a specific source, often to correct a misunderstanding. For instance: "The company's success was "attributed not to" luck, but to strategic planning."

What can I say instead of "attributed not to"?

You can use alternatives like "not ascribed to", "not credited to", or "not due to" depending on the specific context.

Which is correct: "attributed not to" or "not attributed to"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but "attributed not to" is typically used to emphasize what something is attributed to, in contrast to what it isn't. "Not attributed to" simply denies a specific attribution without necessarily providing an alternative.

What's the difference between "attributed not to" and "not attributed to"?

"Attributed not to" is used when you are contrasting one possible cause or source with another, while "not attributed to" simply denies a relationship. Example: "The error was "attributed not to" a coding mistake, but to a hardware malfunction," versus "The error was "not attributed to" the new software version."