contribute to someone

USAGE SUMMARY

"contribute to someone" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to talk about providing something (such as money) to help someone achieve or accomplish something. For example: "I am going to contribute to my cousin's college fund so that he can attend university."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

"Every little bit can contribute to someone who is less fortunate".

The New York Times

Often this is compounded by addiction or mental-health issues, which either contribute to someone becoming homeless, or occur as a result of it.

Independent

On processed food as a whole Thompson points out that many such products are high in fat and sugar, which can contribute to someone becoming overweight or obese, which itself can increase the risk of cancer.

The Guardian

Moreover, many factors contribute to someone's becoming obese, and picking them apart is tricky.

The New York Times

The Super Bowl hero David Tyree, formerly of the football version of the Giants, decided on a much tougher way to contribute to someone's medical plight.

The New York Times - Sports

Do you think you are or contribute to someone else's?

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

Norway: Causing or contributing to someone's death can be punished by up to eight years in prison.

The Guardian

And it is even harder if a poster contributed to someone else's site rather than maintained his or her own site.

The New York Times

Mr. Scheck said the Gonzalez case was one of 106 across the country since 1989 in which DNA had contributed to someone's exoneration.

The New York Times

Perhaps it's this very belief – that a "real" woman must be vulnerable in some way – that at least contributed to someone such as Hillary Clinton not winning the presidency.

The Guardian - Opinion

The first is an impromptu set at his niece's wedding, which involves a joke where the punchline is a pint of semen; and the second a turn at a comedy roast which contributes to someone's death.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "contribute to someone" when you want to emphasize the act of providing support, resources, or assistance to benefit an individual's well-being, goals, or situation.

Common error

Be mindful of the context to avoid misinterpretations. Ensure the sentence clearly indicates that the contribution is intended for a specific individual, not an abstract cause or organization.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "contribute to someone" functions as a verb phrase indicating the action of providing assistance or resources directly to an individual. Ludwig examples show its use in contexts like contributing to medical plight or improving someone's quality of life.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

30%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "contribute to someone" is a grammatically sound and relatively common way to express the action of providing assistance or resources directly to an individual. Ludwig AI validates its correct usage, especially in contexts involving news, general discussions, and online informational resources. While the phrase is versatile, it's important to ensure clarity in its usage to avoid misinterpretations. Alternatives such as "donate to someone" or "help someone out" may be more appropriate depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

donate to someone

Replaces "contribute" with "donate", emphasizing a charitable giving context.

give to someone

Uses a more general term, "give", indicating any form of providing something to another person.

offer assistance to someone

Focuses on providing help or support, highlighting the act of aiding someone.

lend support to someone

Emphasizes providing encouragement and backing to another individual.

provide for someone

Suggests taking care of someone's needs, often in a financial or practical sense.

help someone out

Uses a more informal expression for assisting someone in a particular situation.

support someone financially

Specifies that the contribution is monetary, focusing on financial assistance.

chip in for someone

Suggests a group contribution to help someone, often with money.

subsidize someone's expenses

Focuses on covering part of someone's costs or expenses.

invest in someone

Implies providing resources with the expectation of future benefits or growth for that person.

FAQs

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

You can use "contribute to someone" to describe providing support or resources to benefit an individual. For example, "I want to "contribute to someone"'s education by donating to their college fund."

What are some alternatives to "contribute to someone"?

Some alternatives include "donate to someone", "give to someone", or "help someone out", depending on the specific context and type of contribution.

Is it grammatically correct to say "contribute to someone"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct to say "contribute to someone". Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage. It is used to describe providing something that benefits a particular individual.

What is the difference between "contribute to someone" and "contribute to something"?

"Contribute to someone" focuses on benefiting an individual, while "contribute to something" focuses on benefiting a cause, project, or organization. For instance, "contribute to someone"'s wedding fund versus "contribute to something" like a charity.