was attributable to

USAGE SUMMARY

"was attributable to" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is typically used to explain the cause or reason behind something. For example, "The increase in sales was attributable to the new marketing strategy." This means that the new marketing strategy was the reason for the increase in sales.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This was attributable to a number of reasons.

Britannica

About 65% of the cost was attributable to personnel expenses.

Evaluation and Program Planning

Much of the increase was attributable to cost-cutting.

The New York Times

All too often, misuse of such information was attributable to senior officials.

The New York Times

(Only 6percentt of the division's revenue was attributable to book publishing, according to industry estimates).

The New York Times

Nearly half of that increase was attributable to Household, which added $651 million to the total.

The New York Times

The shortfall in revenue, analysts said, was attributable to two factors.

The New York Times

Much of the growth was attributable to TD's acquisition of Canada Trust, the bank said.

The New York Times

Most of the rise was attributable to young men in the 15 to 34 age group.

The Guardian

Of this gap, roughly 26percentt was attributable to exercising options.

The New York Times

Some of the international outperformance was attributable to the slide in the value of the dollar.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was attributable to" to clearly establish a cause-and-effect relationship, particularly when discussing data, research findings, or historical events.

Common error

While grammatically correct, using "was attributable to" in very informal writing can sound overly formal. Opt for simpler alternatives like "was because of" or "was due to" in casual settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was attributable to" functions as a causal connector, linking an effect to its cause or reason. Ludwig AI confirms its common usage in various contexts, reinforcing its role in establishing cause-and-effect relationships, as shown in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

42%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "was attributable to" is a versatile phrase used to indicate causality, meaning something can be explained by something else. Ludwig AI validates that it is grammatically correct and frequently used across various sources, most commonly in News & Media and Science. While generally suitable for neutral to formal contexts, simpler alternatives may be preferred in casual conversation. When writing with this phrase, ensure a clear cause-and-effect relationship is established.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was due to

This alternative is shorter and more direct, focusing on the cause of an event or situation.

was ascribable to

This alternative is a slightly more formal variant of "was attributable to" with similar meaning.

was caused by

This alternative emphasizes the direct action leading to a result.

was a result of

This alternative is similar to 'was a consequence of' but slightly more general.

resulted from

This alternative highlights the outcome as a consequence of something else.

was a consequence of

This alternative clearly states a cause-and-effect relationship.

stemmed from

This alternative suggests an origin or root cause of the situation.

arose from

This alternative indicates the emergence or development of a situation from a specific source.

can be ascribed to

This alternative is more formal and suggests assigning a quality or characteristic to something.

was produced by

This alternative is appropriate when referring to something that was actively created or generated.

FAQs

How can I use "was attributable to" in a sentence?

Use "was attributable to" to link an outcome or result to its cause. For example, "The company's success "was attributable to" its innovative marketing strategies".

What are some alternatives to "was attributable to"?

Alternatives include "was due to", "was caused by", or "resulted from", depending on the specific context and desired level of formality.

Is it better to say "was attributable to" or "was attributed to"?

"Was attributable to" means 'could be caused by' or 'can be explained by', whereas "was attributed to" means 'was credited to' or 'was believed to be caused by'. The better choice depends on the intended meaning.

What's the difference between "was attributable to" and "was because of"?

"Was attributable to" is generally more formal and precise than "was because of". While both express causality, "was attributable to" is often used in analytical or scientific contexts.