believed to contribute

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "believed to contribute" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a theory, hypothesis, or assumption regarding the role or impact of something in a particular context. Example: "The findings suggest that certain environmental factors are believed to contribute to the increase in local biodiversity."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Acetaldehyde is one of the many factors believed to contribute to hangover symptoms.

Cornell University

Increased pulmonary blood flow is believed to contribute to the development of pulmonary hypertension.

Stanford University

Nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide and particulates are believed to contribute to smog and acid rain.

The New York Times

Biofilm production is believed to contribute to the pathogenicity of this organism.

Britannica

Productive electricity use is widely believed to contribute to positive impacts of electrification projects.

World Development

The different failure mode is believed to contribute to the increment of laminate strength.

Construction and Building Materials

Eating, or nutrition, environments are believed to contribute to obesity and chronic diseases.

American Journal of Preventive Medicine

In addition, the strong Cu Ni interface is believed to contribute to the enhanced plasticity.

Materials Science and Engineering: A

Deficits in the ability to recognize the emotions of others are believed to contribute to this.

Biological Psychiatry

Suboptimal hemodynamics, variable surgical skills, and technique dependency are widely believed to contribute to AVF nonmaturation.

Journal of Vascular Surgery

Differences in acceptance of diabetes patients into RRT programs are not believed to contribute significantly.

Advances in Renal Replacement Therapy

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "believed to contribute", ensure the belief is supported by evidence or a clear line of reasoning. Avoid using it for definitive statements without backing.

Common error

Avoid using "believed to contribute" when stronger causal language is warranted or when definitive evidence exists. Overusing it can weaken your argument.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "believed to contribute" functions as a qualifying verb phrase. It indicates a speculative relationship between two elements, suggesting a perceived influence or effect without asserting a definitive causal link. As per Ludwig, the usage is correct and applicable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

62%

News & Media

20%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

1%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "believed to contribute" is a versatile phrase used to express a supposed influence or contributing factor, without asserting a definitive causal relationship. As Ludwig AI points out, the usage is correct. It's very common across diverse fields, particularly in science, news, and academia. While appropriate for formal contexts, writers should use it judiciously, avoiding overstatement and ensuring the belief is supported by evidence or logical reasoning. Alternatives like ""thought to play a role"" or ""considered to influence"" can offer subtle variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

thought to play a role

Replaces "believed" with "thought" and "contribute" with "play a role", softening the assertion.

considered to influence

Substitutes "believed" with "considered" and "contribute" with "influence", emphasizing a more evaluative perspective.

presumed to be a factor

Replaces the verb "contribute" indicating causation with noun "factor" and introduces "presumed", suggesting less certainty.

understood to be implicated

Changes "believed" to "understood" and "contribute" to "implicated", implying involvement, often in a negative context.

suspected of having an impact

Replaces "believed" with "suspected" and uses "having an impact" instead of "contribute", introducing a sense of uncertainty or potential negativity.

deemed to be instrumental

Changes "believed" to "deemed" and "contribute" to "instrumental", conveying a sense of essentialness or importance.

regarded as a cause

Focuses more directly on causation by using "regarded as a cause" instead of "believed to contribute".

seen as influential

Simplified version, replacing "believed to contribute" with a more direct adjective phrase.

hypothesized to affect

Replaces "believed" with "hypothesized", indicating a formal, scientific context, and "contribute" with "affect".

thought to be significant

Shifts the focus to the level of significance rather than direct contribution.

FAQs

How can I use "believed to contribute" in a sentence?

Use "believed to contribute" when you want to express that something is thought to have an effect or influence on a particular outcome, but without stating it as a definite fact. For example, "Stress is "believed to contribute" to various diseases".

What are some alternatives to "believed to contribute"?

Alternatives include "thought to play a role", "considered to influence", or "presumed to be a factor". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "believed to contribute" in formal writing?

Yes, "believed to contribute" is suitable for formal writing, especially when discussing hypotheses, theories, or potential influences that are not yet definitively proven. However, ensure the belief is attributed to a credible source or based on reasonable evidence.

What's the difference between "believed to contribute" and "known to cause"?

"Believed to contribute" suggests a potential influence that is not fully proven, while "known to cause" implies a direct and established causal relationship. Use "known to cause" only when there is strong evidence supporting the causal link.