needs to be attributed

USAGE SUMMARY

"needs to be attributed" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use this phrase when you want to emphasize that a source or creator should receive credit for their work or contributions. For example, you might write "This quote needs to be attributed to the artist who originally said it."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 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

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

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 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

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

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 the phrase "needs to be attributed", ensure that you are providing the proper credit or source for the information or idea you are referencing. Omitting attribution can lead to accusations of plagiarism or intellectual property infringement.

Common error

A common mistake is attributing information to a source that is too broad or vague. Instead of saying "it needs to be attributed to research", specify the exact study, author, and publication for accurate and credible attribution.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "needs to be attributed" functions as a directive, indicating that credit or responsibility should be formally assigned to a source or cause. Ludwig AI confirms its correct grammatical status.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

20%

Encyclopedias

20%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "needs to be attributed" is grammatically sound and used to emphasize the importance of giving credit or assigning responsibility. Ludwig AI highlights that this phrase is correct and is common across science, news, and encyclopedia sources. While alternatives like "should be credited to" or "must be assigned to" exist, the core function remains consistent: ensuring proper acknowledgement and accountability. Remember to specify precise sources and avoid vague attributions when using this phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

should be credited to

Emphasizes the act of giving recognition or acknowledgement to someone for their work or contribution.

must be assigned to

Implies a necessary and formal allocation of responsibility or origin.

has to be ascribed to

Suggests that something is caused or produced by a particular factor or person and that there's no real way to deny it.

should be assigned the responsibility

Focuses on the act of assigning responsibility

can be traced back to

Focuses on finding the origin of something.

is due to

Indicates a direct cause-and-effect relationship.

stems from

Suggests that something originates or develops from something else.

originates from

Highlights the point of origin or creation.

is the work of

Emphasizes the act of creation or production by a specific individual or group.

finds its source in

Emphasizes source origin and the process of discovery.

FAQs

How do I properly use "needs to be attributed" in a sentence?

Use "needs to be attributed" when you want to emphasize that credit should be given to the originator of an idea, work, or statement. For example, "This discovery /s/must+be+attributed to Dr. Smith's groundbreaking research".

What are some alternatives to saying "needs to be attributed"?

Alternatives include "should be credited to", "/s/must+be+assigned+to", or "/s/has+to+be+ascribed+to", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it acceptable to use "needs to be attributed" in formal writing?

Yes, "needs to be attributed" is appropriate for formal writing, especially in academic or professional contexts where proper attribution is crucial. The example is, "This theory /s/should+be+credited+to its original developer before being further used in the study".

What's the difference between "needs to be attributed" and "can be attributed"?

"Needs to be attributed" implies an obligation to give credit, while "can be attributed" suggests a possibility or a potential cause. For example, "The success /s/is+due+to hard work". In contrast, "The error /s/must+be+assigned+to a coding mistake" implies a necessary correction to the mistake.