which contributed to

USAGE SUMMARY

The form 'which contributed to' is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used as part of a relative clause to introduce a noun or phrase that explains how something came to be. For example: The city faced a massive power outage which contributed to a loss of electricity for many businesses.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Martin also played hurt, which contributed to the decline.

The New York Times - Sports

Inventories remained high as well, which contributed to the decline in prices.

The New York Times

As a style Baroque was highly adaptable, which contributed to its global success.

The New York Times - Arts

That critical moment has passed, like the Modernism which contributed to it.

The Guardian - Books

Like Enron, Penn Square amassed huge liabilities off the balance sheet, which contributed to its demise.

The New York Times

Irrespective of motive, it was a serious error which contributed to a slow-motion stockmarket crash.

The Guardian - Business

Last year, taxes were cut, which contributed to a budget problem and less money for education.

The New York Times

The police said they were now investigating the assault, which contributed to his death.

The New York Times

The girls' surgical sites were closed differently, which contributed to the time difference in healing.

Stanford University

A less protein adhesive composition supported chondrocytes rounded morphology, which contributed to cartilaginous differentiation.

Biomaterials

Higher HAuCl4 concentrations resulted in larger Au nanoparticles, which contributed to higher glycolate production.

Journal of Molecular Catalysis A: Chemical

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "which contributed to" to clearly indicate a cause-and-effect relationship between two events or factors. Ensure that the relationship is logical and supported by evidence.

Common error

Avoid using "which contributed to" when the factor was only remotely connected or had a negligible impact. Use stronger verbs like 'caused' or 'led to' when the factor was the primary driver of the result. Otherwise, use alternatives such as "'played a part in'".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "which contributed to" functions as a relative clause, introducing a clause that provides additional information about a preceding noun or noun phrase by explaining causality. Ludwig AI analysis confirms its proper use in connecting a cause to its effect.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

39%

Science

45%

Academia

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

6%

Formal & Business

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "which contributed to" serves as a crucial tool in English writing for establishing cause-and-effect relationships. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically sound and versatile, fitting seamlessly into various contexts ranging from formal academic papers to general news articles. Its widespread usage underscores its importance in conveying how different factors influence outcomes. While alternatives exist to subtly alter the emphasis, understanding and using "which contributed to" effectively enhances clarity and depth in communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

that led to

Emphasizes a direct cause-and-effect relationship.

that resulted in

Highlights the outcome or consequence of an action or event.

that had an impact on

Focuses on the effect or consequence of something.

that influenced

Focuses on the act of influencing, suggesting a more subtle or indirect effect.

that was a factor in

Highlights that something was one of the elements that influenced an outcome.

that played a part in

Indicates that something was one of several contributing factors.

that factored into

Suggests that something was taken into account or considered as a cause.

that was responsible for

Assigns blame or credit for causing something.

that was instrumental in

Highlights the importance of something as a key factor.

that had a hand in

Suggests a more informal or less direct role in causing something.

FAQs

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

Use "which contributed to" as a relative clause to add information about the cause of something. For example, 'The heavy rain, "which contributed to" the flooding, lasted for three days.'

What are some alternatives to "which contributed to"?

You can use alternatives like "'that led to'", "'that resulted in'", or "'that played a part in'" depending on the context.

Is "which contributed to" formal or informal?

"Which contributed to" is suitable for both formal and informal writing. However, in highly formal contexts, you might consider alternatives like "'that resulted in'" for added precision.

What's the difference between "which contributed to" and "which caused"?

"Which contributed to" implies that something was one of several factors, while "which caused" suggests it was the primary cause. Therefore, "which caused" is stronger than "which contributed to".