be attributed

USAGE SUMMARY

"be attributed" is correct and usable in written English.
It is usually used to indicate that a certain quality or action can be traced to a particular source. For example: "The success of the project can be attributed to the hard work of the team."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Could that also be attributed to statins?

Harvard University

The errors can be attributed to oversight".

The New York Times

"This can be attributed to technology.

The Guardian

Such fragility must, unquestionably, be attributed to his traumatic childhood.

The Guardian

This development can be attributed, to some extent, to biology.

The Guardian

Some of that can be attributed to a bad hip.

The New York Times - Sports

But that failure cannot be attributed to Gallagher.

The Guardian

Much of that can be attributed to Carnegie's zippy prose.

The New Yorker

It's too deep to be attributed to clear sources.

The New Yorker

The difference cannot be attributed to completely innocent explanations".

The Guardian - Film

"Some of it can be attributed to the newspaper portfolio".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "be attributed", ensure the connection between the subject and the attributed cause is clear and supported by evidence. Avoid making unsubstantiated claims.

Common error

Avoid attributing outcomes to overly simplistic causes. Complex events often have multiple contributing factors, so acknowledge this complexity in your analysis.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be attributed" functions as a passive verb phrase, indicating that a cause, quality, or characteristic is assigned or linked to a subject. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is a grammatically correct construction used to establish a relationship between an effect and its cause. Examples in Ludwig illustrate diverse contexts where this phrase is employed.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "be attributed" is a grammatically correct and versatile expression used to assign cause or origin, as validated by Ludwig AI. With its frequent appearance in news, science, and academic writing, "be attributed" serves as a valuable tool for clear and analytical communication. While primarily neutral to formal, careful attention should be paid to ensure accurate and well-supported causal connections. To maximize impact and precision in communication, consider alternatives like "be ascribed to", or "be linked to".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be caused by

Directly indicates the agent or event that brings about a result.

be ascribed to

Replaces "attributed" with "ascribed", emphasizing the act of assigning a cause or characteristic.

be a result of

States that something is a direct consequence of something else.

be explained by

Emphasizes the reason or justification for something.

be due to

Suggests that something is owed or caused by a particular factor.

be credited to

Focuses on giving recognition or praise for something.

be linked to

Highlights a connection or relationship between two things.

stem from

Indicates the origin or source of something.

be assigned to

Suggests a formal or official allocation of responsibility or cause.

be put down to

An informal way of saying something is caused by something else, common in British English.

FAQs

How to use "be attributed" in a sentence?

The phrase "be attributed" is used to indicate that a particular cause, characteristic, or origin is assigned to something. For example, "The company's success can "be attributed" to its innovative marketing strategies".

What can I say instead of "be attributed"?

You can use alternatives like "be ascribed to", "be credited to", or "be linked to" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Which is correct, "be attributed to" or "is attributed with"?

"Be attributed to" is the correct and commonly used form. "Is attributed with" is less frequent and might imply a different nuance, such as possessing a quality rather than being caused by something.

What's the difference between "be attributed to" and "result from"?

"Be attributed to" emphasizes the assignment of a cause or characteristic, while "result from" focuses on the outcome or consequence. You would say "The increase in sales can "be attributed to" the new campaign", and "The increased profits result from the successful campaign".