phrase (passive/causation) · formal

be attributed to + noun / V-ing

UK/bi əˈtrɪbjuːtɪd tuː/US/bi əˈtrɪbjuːtɪd tu/a·TRIB·uted

Band 6-7task2speaking

to be said to be caused by something

Examples

“The decline in bee populations is often attributed to pesticide use.”

“The success of the policy was attributed to strong leadership.”

“Some historians attribute the collapse to economic mismanagement.”

Band 8 sentence

“The recent surge in respiratory problems has largely been attributed to rising air pollution in urban areas.”

Collocations

  • be attributed to climate change / human error / poor planning
  • commonly attributed to

Word family

attribute verb / nounattribution nounattributable adjective

Common mistakes

was attributed with→was attributed to

The drop due by climate change→The drop is attributed to climate change

Say it for a higher band

5due to→6caused by→7+be attributed to + noun / V-ing

Synonyms

be due to

Easily confused

attributed to / due to

“The researchers attributed the change to increased urbanisation.”

Related words

had been + past participlebe + past participleto have been + past participlebe used to + Vbe + past participle + by + agentnoun + past participle (reduced relative clause)be seen as + noun / adjectivehave/has been + past participle

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In The passive

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