attributed vs can be attributed

Both 'attributed' and 'can be attributed' are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'Attributed' is the past tense or past participle form of the verb 'attribute,' while 'can be attributed' is the passive voice construction of the same verb. The choice between them depends on whether you want to use the active or passive voice in your sentence.

Last updated: March 30, 2024 • 1471 views

The word 'attributed' is the past tense or past participle form of the verb 'attribute.' It is commonly used in English.

"attributed"

Use 'attributed' when you want to express that something was credited or assigned to a particular cause, source, or person in the past.

Examples:

The success of the project was attributed to her leadership skills.
The painting was attributed to a famous artist.
The increase in sales can be attributed to the new marketing strategy.

Show examples from the web [+]

Fatality attributed to overdose of fluoxetine alone has been extremely rare.
The increase of average import prices can be attributed to the following factors.
Any surplus revenue will be attributed to the general state budget.
A specific counter shall be attributed to an impeded EGR valve.
The aid should be attributed solely to the nuclear generation business.
An equestrian piece attributed to the Cellini school.
It is therefore concluded that the injury suffered by the Community industry cannot be attributed to its increasing exports.
Error in survey estimates which cannot be attributed to sampling fluctuations.
The sequential number is attributed in accordance with the relevant separate directive or regulation.
Each tenderer shall be attributed a number for each tender period.
The complaint of MCF was attributed the reference CP 164/06, subsequently NN 82/06.
The case was attributed a new number: N 194/2005.
This again is attributed to the problems outlined above in recital 60.
The pharmacological effect of fosaprepitant is attributed to aprepitant.
The VIN shall be unique and unequivocally attributed to a particular vehicle.
The temporary fall in 2009 can be attributed to a downturn in the construction market.
Deny all the lies you attributed to me.
Injury resulting from these transactions should not be attributed to the subsidized imports.
The time for which the attributed value is valid.
The number of Members attributed to each country would then be rather easy to calculate.

Alternatives:

credited to
assigned to
ascribed to

'Can be attributed' is the passive voice construction of the verb 'attribute.' It is used to indicate that something has the potential to be credited or assigned to a particular cause, source, or person.

"can be attributed"

Use 'can be attributed' when you want to emphasize the passive voice and the possibility of assigning credit or responsibility to a specific factor.

Examples:

The success of the project can be attributed to her leadership skills.
The painting can be attributed to a famous artist.
The increase in sales can be attributed to the new marketing strategy.

Show examples from the web [+]

The increase of average import prices can be attributed to the following factors.
The temporary fall in 2009 can be attributed to a downturn in the construction market.
There was a considerable decrease (from 388 to 297) in the number of new antitrust cases, which can be attributed to recent policy developments.
Approximately one third of this can be attributed to 'professional services'.
Some progress can be attributed to the summit.
How many murders can be attributed to you?
Approximately a third of this amount can be attributed to transnational fraudulent activities.
Cause of death can be attributed to non-specific asphyxiation.
This implies that part of that non-recovered aid can be attributed to AEP too.
Performance characteristic means functional quality that can be attributed to an analytical method.
This significant internal dissatisfaction can be attributed to several causes.
Article 5(4) sets out specific criteria for identifying undertakings whose turnover can be attributed to the undertaking concerned.
Many problems and deficiencies in governance, human rights' protection, and democratisation can be attributed to the disregard for and non-compliance with existing legal provisions.
Failure to establish the connection can be attributed to the 112-based eCall in-vehicle system not being registered on the network.
The measures the honourable Member refers to can be attributed only to the Italian State, and not to private actors.
The increase in capacity in 2004 can be attributed to the expectations of increased sales following the enlargement of the EU.
Furthermore, a recent independent study for the combined population of France, Austria and Switzerland (around 75 million people) estimates that some 40000 deaths per year can be attributed to ambient PM (Kunzli et al. 2000).
The increase during the RIP can be attributed mainly to the increase of Union consumption due to recovery from the recession after the economic crisis.
As explained in recital 237 the decline in profitability and of other profit related indicators was not caused by the shrinking market but can be attributed to the continued pressure of dumped Chinese imports.
The success of the FSAP can be attributed to shared political will and the existence of an agreed roadmap of concrete measures.

Alternatives:

could be attributed
may be attributed
might be attributed

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attributed vs can be attributed

"attributed"

"can be attributed"

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