must be contributing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "must be contributing" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when suggesting that something is likely playing a role or having an effect in a particular situation. Example: "The recent changes in policy must be contributing to the increase in employee satisfaction."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

"Paying one of the lowest minimum rates in the public sector must be contributing to this".

The Guardian - Opinion

Despite the species' undoubted rarity in both Colombia and Peru, the Coppery-chested Jacamar remains locally common in parts of Ecuador, although prevailing forest destruction and fragmentation must be contributing to population declines.

Cornell University

And for the broader population, the result is a lack of foreign investment (and capital flight abroad) that must be contributing to the country's poor growth: its GDP fell by 0.4% in the first quarter.From time to time, analysts point to the low Russian valuation as a sign that the market is cheap and that international investors should go on a buying spree.

The Economist

This suggests that either cobalt does not completely block horizontal cell feedback in the mouse or that processes in the inner retina must be contributing to spatial tuning.

Plosone

This suggests that other cell types must be contributing to the pathological process.

Arthritis Research and Therapy

Thus, increased IPSMs must be contributing to processing of TSAs to auto-antigen peptides within Aire+ cells.

Biology Open

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

There are no established thresholds for how much profit the business must be generated, how much money must be contributed to the plan, or how soon profits and contributions must happen.

Forbes

Technological innovation of the tissue engineering must be contributed to improve quality of life.

Science and Technology of Advanced Materials

The actuary keeps track of plan members' data, calculates how much money must be contributed every year and advises the board on key assumptions like future investment returns; the actuary does not "run" the plan.

The New York Times

By law, money received by a taxpayer from an IRA, 401 k), or other workplace retirement plan, must be contributed (i.e. rolled over) to another retirement account within 60 days to escape immediate taxation.

Forbes

Money must be contributed to a 401(k) by year-end to get the deductions.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "must be contributing", ensure the context clearly establishes a causal relationship or a strong likelihood of influence. Avoid using it when the connection is purely speculative.

Common error

Avoid using "must be contributing" when there's no concrete evidence to support the claim. Instead, use softer phrases like "might be contributing" or "could be contributing" to indicate uncertainty.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "must be contributing" functions as a modal auxiliary verb phrase expressing a strong inference or deduction about an ongoing causal relationship. Ludwig confirms its correctness and usability. It suggests that something is highly likely to be a contributing factor to a particular outcome or situation.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

38%

News & Media

31%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "must be contributing" is a versatile modal verb phrase used to express a strong inference about a factor influencing a situation. According to Ludwig AI, it's grammatically correct and commonly employed across various contexts, including science, news, and formal business settings. While indicating a high likelihood, it's important to use it judiciously, ensuring sufficient evidence supports the claim. Alternatives such as "is likely playing a part" or "is probably a factor" can provide a softer tone when certainty is lower. Remember to avoid overstating claims without evidence. The phrase is frequently found in authoritative sources like The Guardian, The Economist, and The New York Times.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is likely playing a part

Emphasizes the probability or likelihood of something contributing.

is probably a factor

Highlights the possibility that something is one of several contributing elements.

may well be involved

Suggests a potential but not definite role in something.

is possibly influencing

Focuses on the potential influence something has on a situation.

is potentially adding to

Emphasizes the incremental nature of the contribution.

is conceivably affecting

Highlights the possibility of something having an impact, though perhaps indirectly.

could be aiding

Suggests that something might be helping or assisting in a certain process.

might be fostering

Indicates that something is possibly promoting or encouraging a specific outcome.

is conceivably supporting

Emphasizes the possibility that something might be giving support to a certain phenomenon.

is perhaps promoting

Suggests that something is possibly advancing or supporting a particular situation.

FAQs

How can I use "must be contributing" in a sentence?

Use "must be contributing" to suggest that something is likely playing a role or having an effect in a particular situation. For example, "The new policies must be contributing to the increase in employee satisfaction."

What are some alternatives to "must be contributing"?

You can use alternatives like "is likely playing a part", "is probably a factor", or "may well be involved", depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "must be contributing" versus "might be contributing"?

"Must be contributing" implies a higher degree of certainty based on available evidence. Use "might be contributing" when there's less certainty and the contribution is more speculative.

Is "must be contributing" formal or informal?

The phrase "must be contributing" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although more formal alternatives might be preferred in academic or professional writing.