be attributed by a

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be attributed by a" is not correct in standard written English.
It is typically used incorrectly when trying to express that something is assigned or credited to someone or something. Example: "The success of the project can be attributed to a dedicated team effort."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

In part, the effects of C5a on the IL-17/IL-23 IL-17/IL-23 IL-17/IL-23by axis3K/Akt-dependent acanvation of IL-10 release.

Clinical and Translational Medicine

This observation could be attributed by a possibility that people with the good navigation skills inclined to remember their path right from the first time they have encountered the map/route of the novel environment while people with the bad navigation skills put greater mental efforts in accumulating primary knowledge and acquired them through experience.

Brain Informatics

Another reason of retarding the drug release might be attributed by a protective gel layer, caused by excess sodium alginate content that could be formed before water's entry in the matrix thus hydrating the inner layer.

BioMed Research International

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Reduction of compressive strength in the carbonated porous concrete may be attributed by an increase in porosity and decomposition of C S H phases.

International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials

Mr. Golab collapsed at work after complaining of dizziness and nausea, and his death was attributed by a local coroner to cyanide poisoning.

The New York Times

The middle-aged Mrs Thatcher's behaviour was attributed by a foreign politician to "the glandular system of women"; a like-minded US doctor, Edgar Berman, physician to Hubert Humphrey, told women Democrats that political ambition was incompatible with their biology.

The Guardian - Opinion

The negative effect of the pressure was attributed by a reflection of the increased repulsive solute solvent interactions, or by effect of the pressure in decreasing the mass transfer parameters.

Industrial Crops and Products

The second fire, accompanied by an explosion that demolished a reinforced concrete staircase, has been attributed by a former East German curator of the Gemäldemuseum to an SS "Werewolf" unit carrying out Hitler's so-called "Nero Order" of March 1945, in which nothing but scorched earth was to be left behind.

The Guardian - Arts

A 2010 death at another nursing home in the same chain, which was rated at four stars at the time and five stars now, was attributed by a coroner in part to bedsores that had developed gangrene and were infested with maggots, and in part to a urinary tract infection.

The New York Times

In addition, an effort is underway to establish what Dr. Howard called a "case tracking system" that will collect data from people whose diseases or deaths appear to be linked to Sept. 11 but are not part of the registry, such as the case of Detective James Zadroga, whose death early this year was attributed by a medical examiner in New Jersey to the work he did at ground zero.

The New York Times

These are attributed by a large number of features, with a smaller number of records.

Journal of Big Data

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use more grammatically sound alternatives such as "be ascribed to" or "be credited to" to clearly convey the intended meaning.

Common error

Avoid using "be attributed by a" because it's grammatically awkward. Instead, ensure the sentence clearly indicates what is causing something. For example, instead of "The error might be attributed by a lack of attention", write "The error might be attributed to a lack of attention".

Linguistic Context

The construction "be attributed by a" aims to express causation or assignment of a quality/characteristic. However, as Ludwig AI indicates, it's grammatically flawed. The intended function is similar to stating that something results from or is a consequence of something else.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Wiki

5%

Social Media

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "be attributed by a" is generally considered grammatically incorrect, as flagged by Ludwig AI. While it attempts to convey causation, standard English offers more precise and grammatically sound alternatives like "be ascribed to", "be credited to", or "be due to". Although examples can be found in diverse sources, predominantly Science and News & Media, writers should prioritize grammatical correctness for clarity and professionalism.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be caused by

Directly states the cause of something.

be ascribed to

Replaces "attributed by" with a more standard and grammatically sound passive construction.

be credited to

Emphasizes recognition or achievement as the cause, rather than just assignment.

be due to

Indicates a direct cause-and-effect relationship.

result from

Focuses on the outcome or consequence of a particular cause.

stem from

Suggests an origin or root cause.

arise from

Similar to "stem from" but emphasizes emergence or development.

originate from

Highlights the point of origin or beginning.

be a consequence of

Highlights the result or effect of an action or event.

be the product of

Implies a process or series of events leading to a specific outcome.

FAQs

What's a grammatically correct alternative to "be attributed by a"?

More appropriate alternatives include "be ascribed to", "be credited to", or "be due to", which provide clarity and adhere to standard English grammar.

How can I use "be ascribed to" correctly in a sentence?

Use "be ascribed to" to indicate the perceived cause or origin. For example, "The increase in sales can be ascribed to the new marketing campaign."

What's the difference between "be attributed to" and "be caused by"?

"Be caused by" directly states the cause, whereas "be attributed to" suggests a perceived or inferred cause that may not be definitively proven.

Is "be attributed by" ever correct?

The phrase "be attributed by a" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. Use alternatives such as "be attributed to" for correct usage.