were attributed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "were attributed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the assignment of a cause, quality, or characteristic to someone or something in the past. Example: "The success of the project was largely attributed to the team's hard work and dedication."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Twenty deaths were attributed to that quake.

The New York Times

Several earlier fires were attributed to arsonists.

The New York Times

"Natural" deaths were attributed to the mazzeri.

The Guardian - Travel

Both attacks were attributed to Isis.

The Guardian - Opinion

Some of these deaths were attributed to drug/alcohol abuse.

The Guardian

Three fatal heart attacks were attributed to the excitement.

The New York Times

At least eight deaths were attributed to the storm.

The New York Times

Two deaths were attributed to winds in New Jersey.

The New York Times

Many of the closings were attributed to the presence of "bacteria associated with fecal contamination," according to the report, but over half were attributed to "unknown sources".

The New York Times

These craters were attributed in 1933 to meteoritic origin.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The observed effects were attributed to induction by other scientists.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "were attributed", ensure the subject clearly identifies what is receiving the attribution, and the prepositional phrase indicates the source or cause to which it's being attributed. For clarity, avoid ambiguity by specifying the agent doing the attributing if relevant.

Common error

Avoid using "were attributed" when the subject does not logically receive the attribution. For instance, saying "The weather was attributed" is incorrect; instead, specify what was affected: "The flight delays were attributed to the weather".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were attributed" functions as a passive verb construction, indicating that a cause, quality, or characteristic was assigned to a subject. As Ludwig AI states, it is a correct and usable phrase in written English. Examples show it connecting effects to causes or assigning responsibility.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Science

37%

Wiki

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "were attributed" is a grammatically sound and frequently used passive construction to assign a cause, quality, or characteristic to a subject. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is correct and usable in written English. It commonly appears in news, scientific reports, and encyclopedic entries, indicating a neutral to formal register. When using this phrase, ensure the subject logically receives the attribution, and that the cause or source is clearly identified. While alternatives like "were credited to" or "were linked to" exist, "were attributed" maintains a broad applicability for expressing causality or association.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were credited to

This alternative suggests recognition or acknowledgement of a specific contribution or cause.

resulted from

This alternative is a neutral way to indicate that something happened as a consequence of something else.

were assigned to

This alternative emphasizes the act of allocating or assigning responsibility or origin.

were linked to

This alternative indicates a connection or association between events or phenomena.

were blamed on

This alternative specifically denotes the assignment of fault or responsibility for a negative outcome.

were accounted for by

This alternative emphasizes that a phenomena or event can be explained by some cause or factor.

were thought to be caused by

This alternative expresses an opinion or belief about the origin or cause of something.

stemmed from

This alternative emphasizes the origin of something as a consequence or result of something else.

were put down to

This alternative conveys an informal way to assign a cause or explanation.

arose from

This alternative indicates emergence or origination as a consequence of something else.

FAQs

How can I use "were attributed" in a sentence?

Use "were attributed" to indicate the cause, origin, or characteristic that was assigned to something in the past. For example, "The power outage "was attributed" to the storm".

What are some alternatives to "were attributed"?

Alternatives include "were credited to", "were assigned to", or "were linked to" depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Which is correct, "were attributed to" or "was attributed to"?

"Were attributed to" is used for plural subjects, while "was attributed to" is used for singular subjects. For example, "The successes were attributed to teamwork" versus "The success was attributed to teamwork".

What's the difference between "were attributed to" and "were caused by"?

"Were attributed to" implies an assignment of a cause or characteristic, while "were caused by" directly states a causal relationship. "The symptoms were attributed to stress" suggests stress is a possible explanation, whereas "The symptoms "were caused by" the virus" indicates a definitive cause.