attributing to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "attributing to" is a perfectly correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to attribute a cause or source to a certain phenomenon or event. For example, "The lack of rain this summer is attributing to the drought we are experiencing."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Bailey speaks of clothes in pathetic fallacies, attributing to them pasts and futures, personalities, souls.

The New Yorker

PSYCHOLOGISTS call it projection -- attributing to others the behavior that we refuse to recognize in ourselves.

The New York Times

But it lost, a fact that stunned supporters are attributing to a mix of confusion and prejudice.

The New York Times

He also spoke out against the Sun newspaper attempting to "destroy his character" by attributing to him "malign purpose".

The Guardian - Books

And attributing to the agitation of the "colored" masses to the self-aggrandizement of a callous few is truly detrimental.

The New York Times

Wiwa finally resolved his differences with his father, accepting his flaws and attributing to him his strong political conscience, and moral compass.

The Guardian

assumptions, attributing to downstream sorting processes.

Journal of Hydrology

"How much are you attributing to Elan and how much are you attributing to its portfolio of holdings?

Forbes

Meanwhile, two compounds exhibit intense fluorescence attributing to the ligands' emissions with stokes shift.

Inorganic Chemistry Communications

Today, Southeast Asians rely heavily on COD when shopping online, attributing to roughly 70% of transactions.

TechCrunch

Without annealing, the implanted nanomaterials revealed worse conductivity, attributing to the damaged crystal lattice.

Nanoscale Research Letters

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Prefer more specific verbs when the context allows. For example, use "resulting from" for direct consequences or "stemming from" for origins.

Common error

Avoid using "attributing to" in unnecessarily passive constructions. Instead of "The success is being attributing to hard work", prefer "The success is attributed to hard work" or "Hard work is attributing to the success."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "attributing to" functions as a causal prepositional phrase, linking a cause or reason to an effect or result. As Ludwig AI explains, it's used to attribute a source or cause to a phenomenon. It often introduces an explanation for why something is happening.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

49%

News & Media

42%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "attributing to" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to connect causes and effects. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's suitable for assigning a source or cause to a particular event, phenomenon, or outcome. While it's versatile, being mindful of passive constructions and choosing precise alternatives like "due to" or "because of" can enhance clarity. It is very frequent in scientific and news contexts, offering a reliable way to explain the reasons behind various occurrences.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

due to

This alternative directly expresses causation, indicating that something is a direct result of something else.

because of

This alternative provides a straightforward explanation of why something has occurred.

ascribing to

This alternative is a direct synonym, implying the act of assigning a quality or characteristic to something.

owing to

This alternative indicates that something is caused or influenced by a specific factor.

imputing to

This alternative suggests assigning responsibility or blame, often in a negative context.

resulting from

This alternative focuses on the outcome or consequence of a particular cause.

stemming from

This alternative suggests that something originates or arises from a particular source or cause.

crediting to

This alternative emphasizes acknowledging the source or origin of something positive.

as a consequence of

This alternative formalizes the cause-and-effect relationship, indicating a logical result.

on account of

This alternative offers a reason or justification for something, often in a formal context.

FAQs

How can I use "attributing to" in a sentence?

Use "attributing to" to link a cause or reason to an effect or result. For example, "The company's growth is "attributing to" its innovative marketing strategies".

What are some alternatives to "attributing to"?

You can use alternatives like "due to", "because of", or "resulting from" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "attributing to" or should I use another phrase?

"Attributing to" is correct, but consider alternatives like "ascribing to" or "crediting to" for nuanced meaning.

What's the difference between ""attributing to"" and "due to"?

"Attributing to" implies assigning a cause, while "due to" directly states that something is caused by something else. "Attributing to" often requires a subject performing the attribution.