contribute to problem

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "contribute to problem" is not correct in English; it should be "contribute to the problem." You can use it when discussing factors or elements that add to an existing issue or difficulty.
Example: "Several factors contribute to the problem of climate change, including deforestation and industrial pollution."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

Academia

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Short assignment deadlines can contribute to problem difficulty as students, especially those with low prior knowledge, who may fail to complete the activity on time.

International Journal of STEM Education

For Rizo 2006, quoted by Castillo (2009), p. 152, " Networks are build up as a form of social organisation that allows a group of people to enhance resources and contribute to problem solution; its logical approach is not to homogenise social groups but organise a society, despite its diversity, through links among groups of interest and common preoccupations" (Hernández, 2012).

International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education

Notwithstanding these limitations, study findings suggest that adversities experienced during childhood may contribute to problem drinking among adolescents.

Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health

Studies in western countries have found that life events contribute to problem drinking while social support can buffer its effects [ 58], although the buffering effect of social support disappears in poor populations [ 59].

BMC Psychiatry

Engage stakeholders associated with the development, review, and use of exposure-science information, including regulatory and health agencies and groups that might be disproportionately affected by exposures that is, engage broader audiences in ways that contribute to problem formulation, monitoring and data collection, access to data, and development of decision-making tools.

Environmental Health Perspectives

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Professor Malick Ghachem discusses how historians contribute to problem-solving by identifying the roots and sources of a problem.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

One of the principal ways historians can contribute to problem-solving work at MIT and elsewhere is by helping to identify what the real problem is in the first place.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

"One of the principal ways historians contribute to problem-solving work at MIT and elsewhere is by helping to identify what the real problem is in the first place," says Malick Ghachem, an MIT professor of history.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Too little restful sleep can also lead to mood changes and anxiety, which in turn contribute to problems with memory.

Harvard University

(1) In China, regional disparities contribute to problems with human health.

Journal of Economic Structures

BACKGROUND Sedentary lifestyle is growing among children and adolescents that may contribute to problems such as overweight and obesity.

Duke University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the article "the" before "problem" when using the phrase "contribute to". The correct form is "contribute to the problem".

Common error

A common mistake is to omit "the" before "problem", resulting in ungrammatical sentences. Remember to always include "the" to ensure correct usage: "contribute to the problem".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "contribute to problem" functions as part of a verb phrase, typically indicating a cause or factor that worsens a situation. As Ludwig AI points out, the grammatically correct form is "contribute to the problem".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

20%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "contribute to problem" is grammatically incorrect; the correct form is "contribute to the problem". As Ludwig AI indicates, this phrase is used to describe factors that worsen a situation. While the phrase appears across various contexts like science, news, and academia, remember to always include the definite article "the" for grammatical accuracy. Alternatives such as "exacerbate the issue" or "aggravate the situation" can be used for variety while ensuring correct grammar.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

exacerbate the issue

This phrase implies making an existing problem worse.

aggravate the situation

Similar to 'exacerbate', this suggests worsening a negative condition.

add to the difficulty

Focuses on increasing the level of challenge or complexity.

compound the problem

Indicates that something is making the problem more complex or severe.

fuel the crisis

Suggests providing impetus or energy to a worsening crisis.

worsen the matter

A direct synonym indicating a turn for the worse.

play a role in the problem

Indicates involvement or influence in the issue.

factor into the issue

Suggests that something is a component or consideration in the problem.

be a factor in the problem

Highlights something as one of the causes of a problem.

add fuel to the fire

This idiom means to make a bad situation even worse.

FAQs

How should I correctly use "contribute to the problem" in a sentence?

Use "contribute to the problem" to indicate that something is adding to or worsening an existing issue. For example, "Several factors "contribute to the problem" of climate change".

Is it grammatically correct to say "contribute to problem" without the article "the"?

No, it is not grammatically correct. The correct form is "contribute to the problem". Omitting "the" makes the sentence ungrammatical.

What are some alternative ways to say "contribute to the problem"?

You can use alternatives like "exacerbate the issue", "aggravate the situation", or "add to the difficulty" depending on the context.

What's the difference between "contribute to the problem" and "help solve the problem"?

"Contribute to the problem" means to make the problem worse, while "help solve the problem" means to assist in finding a solution. They have opposite meanings.