"caused by" vs "contributed by"

Question

"caused by" vs "contributed by"

Both 'caused by' and 'contributed by' are correct phrases, but they are used in different contexts. 'Caused by' is used when something is the direct reason for an outcome, while 'contributed by' is used when something plays a part in producing an effect but is not the sole cause.

Last Updated: March 30, 2024

Use 'caused by' to indicate that something is the direct reason for a particular result or outcome.

Examples:

The accident was caused by the slippery road.
The fire was caused by faulty wiring.
The illness was caused by a virus.
The delay was caused by bad weather.
The damage was caused by the earthquake.

Alternatives:

resulted from
stemmed from
originated from
arose from
was due to

Use 'contributed by' to indicate that something plays a part in producing an effect, but is not the sole cause.

Examples:

The success of the project was contributed by the hard work of the team.
The beauty of the painting was contributed by the artist's skill.
The flavor of the dish was contributed by the fresh ingredients.
The growth of the company was contributed by strategic planning.
The improvement in sales was contributed by the new marketing campaign.

Alternatives:

played a role in
had a hand in
had a part in
was a factor in
was instrumental in

Answer 1

caused by

The phrase 'caused by' is correct and commonly used in English.

Answer 2

contributed by

The phrase 'contributed by' is correct and commonly used in English.

"caused by" vs "contributed by"

caused by

contributed by

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