this was blamed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "this was blamed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing an action or event for which responsibility or fault is assigned to someone or something. Example: "The failure of the project was significant, and ultimately, this was blamed on a lack of communication among team members."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

This was blamed for causing stillbirths in animals and humans.

The Economist

This was blamed on John Sununu, the chief of staff.

The New Yorker

This was blamed on worries that Brexit talks could begin within months, following comments by Britain's foreign secretary, Boris Johnson.

The Guardian - Business

This was blamed partly for causing riots in inner-city areas such as Brixton, in south London, and Handsworth, in Birmingham.

The Economist

California suffered power cuts like a developing world country or 1970s Britain, and this was blamed on its hapless governor, Gray Davis, who was to be booted out of office in favour of Arnold Schwarzenegger.

The Guardian

Then, as now, this was blamed on the subject's marginalisation in the curriculum and the new techniques of social historical teaching – the emphasis on skills, on local and family history – which they thought had undermined the story of how Britain became Great.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

Much of this is blamed on cuts in traffic policing.

The Guardian - Opinion

This species is on a serious decline, and partly this is blamed on decreases in Horshoe Crab egg densities on Delaware Bay due to over harvesting of the crabs.

Cornell University

Almost all of this is blamed on livestock.

Forbes

Can this be blamed on the old adage that women aren't funny?

Forbes

This is blamed on the expense and logistics of maintaining constant contact with isolated communities such as those on the reserve (informant interview, Plateau State government).

Pastoralism

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider alternative phrases like "this was attributed to" or "this resulted from" if you want to avoid the negative connotation associated with "blame".

Common error

Avoid using "this was blamed" without specifying who or what is being blamed. Vague attributions can weaken your argument and create confusion for the reader. Always provide context to ensure the blame is clearly assigned and understood.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "this was blamed" functions as a passive construction, indicating that responsibility or fault for something is being assigned. As Ludwig AI shows, it's used to attribute negative outcomes to specific causes.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "this was blamed" is a common phrase used to assign responsibility or fault for a particular event or situation. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and frequently appears in news, academic, and scientific contexts. While the phrase is generally neutral, it carries a negative connotation due to the nature of "blame". When using this phrase, it is crucial to provide clear context, specifying who or what is being blamed and why. If the intention is to simply state a cause without implying fault, alternative phrases like "this was attributed to" or "this resulted from" may be more appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

this was attributed to

Replaces "blamed" with "attributed to", focusing on cause rather than fault.

this was ascribed to

Similar to "attributed to", but often implies a less concrete or provable cause.

this was held responsible for

Emphasizes accountability rather than just causation.

the cause of this was

Shifts the focus to identifying the cause, making it more direct.

this resulted from

Focuses on the outcome and its origin, omitting the assignment of blame.

this stemmed from

Implies that something originated or developed from a particular source.

the reason for this was

Directly asks for and provides the reason, bypassing blame.

this can be traced back to

Highlights the origin or source, suggesting a chain of events.

this was put down to

More informal way of saying something was attributed to something.

this was considered the fault of

Directly states fault, making it less ambiguous than "blamed".

FAQs

How to use "this was blamed" in a sentence?

Use "this was blamed" to indicate that something negative is considered the responsibility or fault of someone or something. For example, "The project's failure was blamed on poor management."

What can I say instead of "this was blamed"?

You can use alternatives like "this was attributed to", "this was ascribed to", or "this resulted from" depending on the context.

Is it correct to use "this was blamed on"?

Yes, "this was blamed on" is a correct and common construction. It's used to specify what or who is being blamed. For example, "The accident was blamed on the driver's negligence."

What's the difference between "this was blamed on" and "this was attributed to"?

"This was blamed on" implies fault or responsibility for something negative, while "this was attributed to" simply means something is considered the cause, without necessarily implying fault.