it was attributed by

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was attributed by" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct form would typically be "it was attributed to." Example: "The discovery was attributed to the renowned scientist."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

The rumors were given extra fuel by the absence of Jim Steinman, the show's composer and lyricist, on opening night, though it was attributed by one friend to simple superstition.

The New York Times

The peak at 14 GHz observed by Lockwood was also observed by them, but it was attributed by the authors to the bulk transverse Rayleigh mode.

Nanoscale Research Letters

The idea of majorization kept occurring in other fields, such as chemistry and physics, but it was attributed by different names such as 'x is more mixed than y', 'x is more chaotic than y' and 'x is more disordered than y'.

Journal of Inequalities and Applications

It was attributed by the authors to ochronotic accretions that were integrated from the sclera into the limbus and may have lead to corneoscleral thinning.

BMC Ophthalmology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

F was attributed by its nominator, MB from Albany, to F. Scott Fitzgerald but it actually comes from his wife Zelda's novel, "Save Me the Waltz".

The New York Times

The individuals identified were not notified of the breach because the ABS considered it to be "minor", and the matter was attributed by the ABS to human error.

The Guardian

One of the ex-directory numbers was attributed by Whittamore to Milly's family home.

The Guardian

The 2013 theft was attributed by the company to be a cause of the breach in April 2015.

The Guardian - Tech

Neil Kinnock's failure to attract female voters was attributed by some to his bald pate.

The Economist

Mr. Kurtz was allowed to return home on May 17, and his wife's death was attributed by the authorities to heart failure.

The New York Times

This effect was attributed by both sets of authors to the competition by weeds for water.

New Zealand Journal of Forestry Science

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use "attributed to" instead of "attributed by" for grammatically correct and clear writing. For example, say "The success was attributed to hard work" instead of "The success was attributed by hard work".

Common error

Avoid using the phrase "attributed by". The correct preposition to use with "attributed" is "to". Using "by" can confuse readers and make your writing appear unprofessional.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was attributed by" attempts to express the passive assignment of a quality, cause, or origin. However, as Ludwig AI points out, the correct form is "attributed to."

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "it was attributed by" is found in some sources, Ludwig AI indicates that it is grammatically incorrect. The correct and widely accepted form is "attributed to". This phrase is used to assign a cause, origin, or characteristic to something. When writing, always use "attributed to" to ensure grammatical correctness and clarity. Some common contexts where you might find this corrected phrase used are in news and scientific writing, but it's essential to avoid the incorrect "attributed by" in all writing scenarios. Alternatives include phrases such as "ascribed to" or "credited to" for similar meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was ascribed to

Replaces "attributed by" with "ascribed to", a more standard and grammatically correct phrasing with the same meaning.

it was credited to

Uses "credited to" instead of "attributed by", focusing on acknowledgment of achievement or origin.

it was assigned to

Replaces "attributed by" with "assigned to", implying a formal allocation or designation.

it was linked to

Uses "linked to" instead of "attributed by", suggesting a connection or association rather than direct causation.

it was blamed on

Replaces "attributed by" with "blamed on", indicating assignment of fault or responsibility for something negative.

it was put down to

Uses "put down to" instead of "attributed by", a more informal way of suggesting a cause or reason.

it was considered to be

Replaces "attributed by" with "considered to be", focusing on a general opinion or assessment.

it was thought to be

Uses "thought to be" instead of "attributed by", indicating a belief or hypothesis.

it was explained by

Replaces "attributed by" with "explained by", highlighting the act of providing a reason or justification.

the cause was identified as

Restructures the sentence to emphasize the identification of a cause, moving away from the passive voice of "attributed by".

FAQs

What's the correct way to say something was credited to someone?

The correct way is to use "attributed to". For example, "The discovery was "attributed to" Marie Curie" is correct, while "attributed by" is grammatically incorrect.

What can I use instead of the phrase "it was attributed by"?

Alternatives include "it was ascribed to", "it was credited to", or "it was assigned to", depending on the specific meaning you want to convey.

Is "attributed by" ever correct in a sentence?

In standard English, "attributed by" is generally considered incorrect. The correct phrasing is almost always ""attributed to"".

How does "attributed to" differ from "caused by"?

"Attributed to" suggests assigning a quality, characteristic, or origin, while "caused by" indicates direct causation. You might say, "The painting is attributed to Van Gogh", but "The accident was caused by reckless driving".