needed to be attributed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "needed to be attributed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the requirement to give credit or acknowledgment to a source or author for their work or ideas. Example: "The research findings needed to be attributed to the original authors to maintain academic integrity."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

The workings of the universe no longer needed to be attributed to the ineffable will of a divine Creator; rather, they were brought into the realm of science an explanation of phenomena through natural laws.

Encyclopedia Britannica

What is more, the charges that needed to be attributed to ions to explain electrolysis were themselves linked to the valencies of the chemists.

SEP

Finally, Experiment 4 suggested that the social information needed to be attributed to the partners in the game for the bias to take place.

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

That means we had about a 37% probability of an earthquake of that magnitude happening on Boobquake just due to chance alone – hardly an improbable event that needs to be attributed to an angry deity.

The Guardian - Opinion

This large reduction needs to be attributed to N incorporation, which rises to 2.6 ± 0.4% (in reasonable agreement with the nominal composition of 2%).

Nanoscale Research Letters

To say, in this sense, that someone sees green in just to say that there is some green in the line in which their eyes are pointed no mental state needs to be attributed.

SEP

A nominal Subject may be present, however, where modal responsibility needs to be attributed to a particular entity in the exchange context, and where that entity has not already been established as understood in the context.

Functional Linguistics

In PS2 the appearance of For3p dots would need to be attributed to unlikely events involving long-lived For3p on actin cables.

Plosone

Hence, if significant between-group differences are to appear, they need to be attributed to factors unique to the music therapy treatment.

BMC Palliative Care

If the dog assumes that the world typically contains stable causal relationships, then the change of the experienced contingency needs to be attributed by the dog to the information that reached its senses rather than to a change of contingencies in the world.

Animal Cognition

Hansberry intends Walter Lee's playing fast and loose with the much needed incoming funds to be attributed to a young man's impetuosity.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "needed to be attributed", ensure that the subject requiring attribution is clearly defined to avoid ambiguity. For example, specify who or what the action or result needs to be credited to.

Common error

Avoid assuming that attribution is universally understood; clearly state the source, especially when the information is not common knowledge or could be misinterpreted.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "needed to be attributed" functions as a passive construction, indicating that something requires acknowledgement or crediting to a particular source. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. Examples show its use in scientific, news, and general contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

20%

Encyclopedias

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "needed to be attributed" is a grammatically correct passive construction used to express the necessity of acknowledging the source of information or actions. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and usability. While relatively rare, this phrase is most frequently found in scientific and news contexts, indicating a formal or semi-formal register. When using this phrase, ensure clarity in identifying what requires attribution to avoid ambiguity. Common alternatives include "had to be ascribed" and "required attribution". Understanding the communicative purpose of highlighting the source's importance ensures appropriate and effective usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

needed to be assigned to

Replaces "attributed" with "assigned to", making the phrase more direct and specific.

had to be ascribed

Replaces "needed" with "had to", implying obligation but uses "ascribed" instead of "attributed".

required attribution

Focuses on the necessity of "attribution" itself, using a more concise structure.

demanded to be credited

Emphasizes the right to receive acknowledgement, using "credited" instead of "attributed".

should have been assigned

Suggests a recommendation or expectation of assignment, using "assigned" instead of "attributed".

needed to be linked to

Emphasizes the connection or relationship, using "linked to" instead of "attributed".

had to be connected to

Replaces "needed" with "had to" and "attributed" with "connected to", focusing on a necessary link.

had to be imputed

Implies assigning responsibility or fault, using "imputed" instead of "attributed".

required to be associated with

Uses "associated with" instead of "attributed", suggesting a connection rather than direct causation or origin.

warranted attribution to

Indicates that attribution was justified or deserved, replacing "needed" with "warranted" and adding "to".

FAQs

How can I use "needed to be attributed" in a sentence?

You can use "needed to be attributed" to indicate that something requires acknowledgement of its source. For instance, "The success of the project needed to be attributed to the dedicated team members".

What's a more concise alternative to "needed to be attributed"?

Alternatives include "required attribution", which is more direct, or you could rephrase the sentence to use "required to be credited".

Is it always necessary to provide attribution?

Yes, especially in academic and professional writing, providing attribution is crucial to avoid plagiarism and give credit to the original source. Ideas and data not your own "should be cited".

What is the difference between "attributed to" and "assigned to"?

"Attributed to" generally means giving credit for something, while "assigned to" means giving a task or responsibility. While both can be related, "attributed to" focuses on origin or source while "assigned to" refers to tasks. For instance, success can be "attributed to" hard work, but a task is "assigned to" a specific person.