was contributed to

USAGE SUMMARY

"was contributed to" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe something that has been added to or donated towards a larger entity or cause. For example: "The success of the charity event was contributed to by the generous donations of the community."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

The diagramed deal was contributed to the tournament bulletin by Bob Friend.

The New York Times - Arts

There is no evidence that any club money was contributed to the program.

The New York Times

But taxpayers who have nondeductible I.R.A.'s, as well as traditional deductible I.R.A.'s, need to know how much was contributed to each kind over the years.

The New York Times

The New Yorker, September 28 , 1940 P. 13A social worker investigated the case of a delinquent girl whose delinquence was contributed to exclusively by sailors.

The New Yorker

Of that amount, $55,000 was contributed to the Democratic National Committee in connection with the vice president's much-criticized visit to a Buddhist temple in the Los Angeles area.

The New York Times

The jury concluded: "Dorothy Groce was shot by police during a planned, forced entry raid at her home, and her subsequent death was contributed to by failures in the planning and implementation of the raid".

The Guardian

"The draft was contributed to by a number of people, including the editor-in-chief [Paul Dacre]," Liz Hartley, Associated's manager of editorial legal services, told Lord Justice Leveson on Wednesday afternoon.

The Guardian

The jury concluded: "Dorothy Groce was shot by police during a planned surprise, forced entry raid at her home and her subsequent death was contributed to by failures in the planning and implementation of the raid".

The Guardian

Yorkshire have recorded a £2m loss for 2010, a figure that was contributed to by poor attendance figures for the Pakistan v Australia Test that was staged at Headingley last summer.

The Guardian - Sport

By Lucy Winn and Russell Maloney The New Yorker, September 28 , 1940 P. 13A social worker investigated the case of a delinquent girl whose delinquence was contributed to exclusively by sailors.

The New Yorker

According to a memo sent to N.F.L. teams explaining the situation, money was contributed to the pool by at least one outsider, Michael Ornstein, a marketing agent who is close to Payton.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "was contributed to", ensure the subject clearly identifies what provided the contribution. Clarity enhances the sentence's impact and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "was contributed to" when an active voice would be more direct and concise. For example, instead of "The increase in sales was contributed to by the marketing campaign", consider "The marketing campaign increased sales".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was contributed to" functions as a passive verb phrase, indicating that something received assistance or influence from another source. Ludwig examples show its use in various contexts, emphasizing the reception of contribution.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

53%

News & Media

39%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

1%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "was contributed to" is a common and grammatically correct passive verb phrase used to indicate that something has been influenced or augmented by a particular factor. As confirmed by Ludwig, it appears frequently in scientific and news-related contexts. When using this phrase, ensure clarity regarding the source and nature of the contribution. While acceptable, consider using active voice constructions for more direct and engaging writing. Alternatives such as "was instrumental in" or "played a role in" can provide subtle variations in meaning. Pay attention to avoiding misuse by using active voice instead whenever possible. Be mindful to use an active voice to have a more direct message.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was instrumental in

Indicates a key role in bringing about a particular result.

was influential in

Highlights the power to affect events or decisions.

was a factor in

Signifies that something played a part in causing a specific outcome.

helped to bring about

Focuses on the assistance provided in achieving a specific result.

played a role in

Emphasizes the active participation of something in influencing an event.

assisted in

Suggests providing aid or support to facilitate something.

had a hand in

Implies involvement or influence, often in a more subtle or indirect way.

led to

Implies a direct causal relationship, where one thing directly caused another.

added to

Indicates an increase or enhancement of something.

figured in

Indicates that something was part of a process or event, often in a significant way.

FAQs

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

Use "was contributed to" to indicate that something played a part in causing or adding to a particular situation. For example, "The project's success "was contributed to" by the team's hard work".

What are some alternatives to "was contributed to"?

You can use alternatives like "was instrumental in", "played a role in", or "led to" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to use active or passive voice with "was contributed to"?

While "was contributed to" is grammatically correct, using the active voice can often make your writing more direct and engaging. For instance, instead of "The problem "was contributed to" by poor planning", you could say "Poor planning contributed to the problem".

What's the difference between "was contributed to" and "resulted from"?

"Was contributed to" suggests partial influence or addition, while "resulted from" implies a more direct causal relationship. "The improved performance "was contributed to" by new training" means training was one factor. "The failure resulted from negligence" means negligence was the primary cause.