this may be contributed to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "this may be contributed to" is not correct in standard English.
The correct expression would be "this may be attributed to." Example: "The increase in sales this quarter may be attributed to our new marketing strategy."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

Wiki

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

This may be contributed to the controlled release manner of the nanoparticle formulation.

Nanoscale Res Lett

This may be contributed to the constructive quantum interference in M2 molecule with two parallel chains.

Electrochemistry Communications

This may be contributed to the high amount of immobilized enzyme was added, especially in the solvent system, the viscosity of the reaction medium was increased and then further led to the less effective transfer of the substrates to the active sites of the excess enzyme molecules inside the bulk of enzyme particles [33, 34].

Chemistry Central Journal

This may be contributed to some extent to the rapid increase in obesity and diabetes in men.

European Journal of Epidemiology

However, the survival curve was indiscriminate between stage I and II (P = 0.976), this may be contributed to the small sample size and, most patients of stage II were nodal negative.

BMC Cancer

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

This may be contributing to the difficulty in reconstructing the phylogeny of this species complex.

Plosone

This may be contributing to an excessive strain on the lower back.

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

The results suggest that some GPs may have difficulty in applying appropriate diagnostic labels to patients with AF and that this may be contributing to inappropriate prescribing decisions.

BMJ Open

If such views about qualitative research are widespread, this may be contributing to the low publication rates in high impact journals demonstrated by this research study.

BMC Health Services Research

AGH conducts a large number of public awareness seminars and it is possible that this may be contributing to the higher knowledge scores in patients recruited from that hospital.

BMC Public Health

In the general Australian population, prevalence of overweight/obesity has increased across most age groups over time 38 and this may be contributing to the rising GDM prevalence observed in our study among most groups including the younger mothers.

BMJ Open

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Replace the phrase "this may be contributed to" with the grammatically correct alternative "this may be attributed to". It ensures clarity and professionalism in writing.

Common error

Do not use the passive voice construction "this may be contributed to". Opt for stronger and more direct alternatives like "this may be attributed to" or "this may be due to" for improved writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "this may be contributed to" functions as a causal indicator, attempting to suggest a potential cause or factor influencing a particular outcome. However, as Ludwig AI points out, it's grammatically incorrect, affecting its suitability for formal usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

70%

Wiki

20%

News & Media

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "this may be contributed to" aims to express a potential cause or influence. However, according to Ludwig AI, it's grammatically incorrect and should be avoided in favor of alternatives like "this may be attributed to", "this may be due to", or "this may be ascribed to". While it appears in some scientific and news sources, its incorrect grammar makes it unsuitable for formal writing and questionable even in informal contexts. Opting for grammatically sound alternatives ensures clarity and professionalism in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

this may be attributed to

Uses "attributed" which is a more standard and grammatically accepted alternative to "contributed to" in this context.

this may be ascribed to

Employs "ascribed" offering a formal tone and implying an element of judgment or opinion in assigning the cause.

this may be due to

Replaces "contributed to" with "due to", indicating direct causation or reason for something.

this may be linked to

Suggests a connection or association rather than direct contribution or causation.

this may be related to

Indicates a relationship or correlation, implying less direct influence than "contributed to".

this may stem from

Highlights the origin or source of something, suggesting a gradual development from a particular cause.

this could be a factor of

Presents the element as one possible factor among others that influences the final outcome.

this might result from

Focuses on the consequence or outcome, indicating that the described result is a possible effect of something else.

this is possibly influenced by

Highlights the possible influences from other aspects, presenting a more passive voice than "contributed to".

this potentially arises from

Suggests a more subtle origin or emergence, implying that the issue may not be directly caused, but rather developed gradually from another influence.

FAQs

What is a grammatically correct alternative to "this may be contributed to"?

The grammatically correct and widely accepted alternative is "this may be attributed to". Other options include "this may be due to" or "this may be ascribed to".

When is it appropriate to use "this may be attributed to" instead of "this may be contributed to"?

Use "this may be attributed to" in any formal or academic writing where you want to suggest a cause or reason for something. It is a more precise and grammatically sound choice.

Is "this may be contributed to" considered formal or informal language?

While the phrase might appear in some contexts, it's generally seen as grammatically incorrect. It's best to avoid it in both formal and informal writing and opt for a more standard alternative.

What are some synonyms for "this may be contributed to" that are suitable for different contexts?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "this may be linked to", "this may be related to", or "this may stem from" to convey a similar meaning with better grammatical accuracy.