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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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she was attributed

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "she was attributed" is not correct in standard English usage.
It is typically used in contexts where one is discussing the assignment of a quality, characteristic, or work to someone, but it requires a specific object to follow it. Example: "She was attributed with the success of the project due to her innovative ideas."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

Wiki

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Thus, according to the Realise2© results and debrief, she was attributed with strengths such as Adherence, Catalyst and Feedback.

Trying to resolve the mystery, Tarasouleas asserts that "perhaps Revithi had two names, or perhaps for reasons unknown she was attributed the name of the Muse Melpomene".

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

The book was attributed to "St.

News & Media

The New York Times

Later its variability was attributed to vegetation.

It was attributed to Donald Trump.

News & Media

The New York Times

The account was attributed to AEC "scientists".

News & Media

The New Yorker

The text was attributed to John Stirling Walker.

News & Media

The New York Times

Mr. Benson's was attributed to health reasons.

News & Media

The New York Times

Her death was attributed to hyperthermia.

News & Media

The New York Times

The cause was attributed to "pilot error".

News & Media

The New York Times

That crash was attributed to pilot error.

News & Media

The New York Times
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Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Prefer active voice when attributing characteristics (e.g., "People attributed her success to hard work" rather than "She was attributed success by people").

Common error

Avoid using "she was attributed" without specifying what is being attributed. This leaves the sentence incomplete and grammatically incorrect. For example, instead of "She was attributed", use "She was attributed with the leadership of the team".

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

78%

Authority and reliability

2.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "she was attributed" functions as a passive construction where a quality, characteristic, or action is assigned to the subject. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase requires a direct object to clarify what is being assigned, as seen in some of the provided examples.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Wiki

33%

Science

34%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "she was attributed" isn't strictly wrong, Ludwig AI indicates that it's often incomplete and grammatically awkward. It's best used with a clarifying object and the preposition "with", such as "She was attributed with great skill". However, alternatives like "she was credited with", "she was known for", or rephrasing as "it was attributed to her" often provide greater clarity and grammatical correctness. Given its infrequent usage and potential for misinterpretation, careful consideration should be given before using "she was attributed" in writing.

FAQs

How can I use "she was credited with" instead of "she was attributed"?

While "she was attributed" is grammatically questionable, you can use "she was credited with" to indicate that she received recognition for something. Example: "She was credited with the success of the project".

What are some alternatives to "she was attributed" that are more grammatically sound?

Consider using phrases like "she was known for", "she was recognized as", or "it was attributed to her" depending on the specific context.

Is "she was attributed" always incorrect?

While not strictly incorrect, "she was attributed" is often incomplete and awkward. It usually needs a direct object and preposition to clarify what is being assigned. For instance, "She was attributed with great skill" is more complete, though alternatives may still be preferable.

Which is correct, "she was attributed with" or "it was attributed to her"?

Both constructions can be used, but "it was attributed to her" often provides more clarity, especially when specifying the source or reason behind the attribution. For example, "The discovery was attributed to her persistence".

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Source & Trust

78%

Authority and reliability

2.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: