attribution to

USAGE SUMMARY

"attribution to" is correct and usable in written English.
When referring to the act of assigning responsibility or credit for something, you can use it as an active verb in a sentence (i.e. "He received attribution to his hard work").

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

How definite is the attribution to humans?

The New York Times

The attribution to Jazira is plausible, but not demonstrated.

The New York Times - Arts

"Attribution to original reports and links to the source articles are included.

The Guardian

This article was amended on 27 September 2016 to add an attribution to Bloomberg News.

The Guardian - Film

Today, Romer says he is not at all upset about the current attribution to Emanuel.

The New York Times - Magazine

What do you do, sir?" (Scholars have recently suggested that the attribution to Keynes is apocryphal).

The New Yorker

Links and/or attribution to the original were placed "three or four paragraphs in".

The Guardian

On No. 11: The attribution to the Founding Fathers papers over a small problem.

The New Yorker

It's not unusual to see news stories describe him as "erratic" without attribution to an opponent.

The New York Times

The paper published the claim with no evidence and without any attribution to any identified sources.

The Guardian - Opinion

Yet the attribution to St. Francis has had some high-profile adherents.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "attribution to", ensure the recipient of the attribution is clearly defined to avoid ambiguity. For example, specify "attribution to the original author" rather than simply "attribution".

Common error

While "attribution to" is correct, overuse can make writing sound stiff. Vary your phrasing with synonyms like "credited to" or "ascribed to" for a more natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "attribution to" functions as a prepositional phrase, often used as a noun complement or adjunct. It indicates the assignment of a quality, cause, or origin to a specific source. As Ludwig indicates, it correctly and effectively points to the source or origin.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

37%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "attribution to" is a grammatically correct and frequently used prepositional phrase. It signifies the act of assigning or crediting something to a particular source, as confirmed by Ludwig. Its usage spans diverse domains like news, science, and business, with a neutral to professional register. While versatile, avoid overuse for a more natural writing style and consider alternative phrases when appropriate. According to Ludwig, the phrase is suitable for various contexts and aids in properly crediting sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ascription to

A more formal synonym emphasizing the act of assigning a quality or characteristic.

credit to

Focuses on acknowledging someone's contribution or achievement.

due to

Indicates causation or reason, often implying responsibility.

responsibility to

Highlights the obligation or accountability linked to an action or outcome.

assignment to

Emphasizes the act of allocating or designating something to someone.

identification with

Implies a connection or association, rather than a direct assigning of cause or origin.

linking to

Focuses on creating a connection or association between two entities.

connecting with

Similar to "linking to", but can imply a weaker or less formal association.

tracing back to

Highlights the act of finding the origin or source of something.

referring to

Indicates a mention or allusion, without necessarily assigning responsibility or credit.

FAQs

How do I properly use "attribution to" in a sentence?

Use "attribution to" to indicate that something is credited or assigned to a particular source. For example, "The success of the project is due to the team's hard work, with specific "credit to" Sarah for her leadership."

What's the difference between "attribution to" and "attribute to"?

"Attribution to" is a noun phrase referring to the act of assigning something. "Attribute to" is a verb phrase meaning to consider something as caused by someone or something. For example, you can give "attribution to" someone, or "attribute" success "to" hard work.

Are there situations where I should avoid using "attribution to"?

In very informal contexts, you might consider simpler phrasing. However, "attribution to" is generally suitable for most formal and professional writing scenarios.

What are some alternatives to "attribution to" that I can use in my writing?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like ""credit to"", "due to", "ascribed to", or "attributed to".