Attribute vs. Contribute: What's the Difference?
Edited by Aimie Carlson || By Janet White || Updated on September 27, 2023
Attribute means to regard something as being caused by a particular thing, while contribute refers to giving something in order to help achieve or provide something.
Key Differences
Attribute and contribute, although both verbs, serve distinctive purposes within a sentence. Attribute usually implies assigning a quality or characteristic to a person or thing, reflecting the perceived cause or origin of a certain outcome or condition. On the other hand, contribute reflects the action of giving or adding to, usually denoting an active effort to produce a result or a part of a collective endeavor, showcasing participation or involvement.
Attribute operates more on an attributive level, focusing on linking effects to causes, typically considering inherent qualities or characteristics. For instance, if one attributes success to hard work, it signifies a causal relationship, implying hard work as the reason for success. Conversely, contribute typically implies a more active participation, where one can contribute time or resources, indicating an additive relationship, marking the provision or offering of elements to a greater whole.
Attribute usually needs an object to be assigned, it’s often related to the notion or concept that a characteristic or quality is inherent or assigned to a subject. For example, a student might attribute their failure to lack of study. In contrast, contribute often conveys a sense of collaboration or addition to a common cause or goal, like when a person contributes to a discussion, enhancing the conversation by adding viewpoints or ideas.
The context of using attribute usually revolves around explanation or causation, offering a perspective on why something is the way it is, thus adding depth to understanding. Meanwhile, the use of contribute is more about active participation or giving, presenting a sense of collective effort or shared responsibility in achieving a common objective or sustaining a common cause, thus emphasizing collective effort and shared responsibility.
Comparison Chart
Function
Assigning a quality or characteristic.
Giving or adding to help achieve or provide something.
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Relationship
Causal.
Additive.
Participation
Not active; more about assigning or linking.
Active; implies participation or offering.
Context
Often used to explain or infer causation.
Used to denote active involvement or addition.
Nature
More observational or reflective.
More proactive and engaging.
Attribute and Contribute Definitions
Attribute
To regard a work or an artistic creation as belonging to a particular period or person.
This painting is attributed to Leonardo da Vinci.
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Contribute
To play a significant part in bringing about an end or result.
Healthy eating contributes to a longer life.
Attribute
A quality or feature regarded as a characteristic or inherent part of someone or something.
One attribute of a lion is its strength.
Contribute
To give or supply in common with others.
She decided to contribute $100 to the charity.
Attribute
A symbol or term representing a property or characteristic.
In HTML, ‘src’ is an attribute used to provide the address of the content.
Contribute
To supply ideas, advice, or support to a common goal or effort.
Everyone in the team contributed their ideas to solve the problem.
Attribute
To explain (something) by indicating a cause.
She attributed her headache to the noisy environment.
Contribute
To write articles, etc., for a publication.
He contributes regularly to the local newspaper.
Attribute
To regard as arising from a particular cause or source; ascribe
Attributed their failure to a lack of preparation.
Contribute
To donate or give money, time, or effort for a cause.
Volunteers contribute their time to help the needy.
Attribute
To regard (a work, for example) as belonging to or produced by a specified agent, place, or time
Attributed the painting to Titian.
Attributed the vase to 18th-century Japan.
Contribute
To give or supply in common with others; give to a common fund or for a common purpose.
Attribute
A quality or characteristic inherent in or ascribed to someone or something.
Contribute
To submit for publication
Contributed two stories to the summer issue.
Attribute
An object associated with and serving to identify a character, personage, or office
Lightning bolts are an attribute of Zeus.
Contribute
To make a contribution
Contributes to several charities.
Attribute
(Grammar) A word or phrase syntactically subordinate to another word or phrase that it modifies; for example, my sister's and brown in my sister's brown dog.
Contribute
To help bring about a result; act as a factor
Exercise contributes to better health.
Attribute
A characteristic or quality of a thing.
His finest attribute is his kindness.
Contribute
To submit material for publication.
Attribute
An object that is considered typical of someone or some function, in particular as an artistic convention.
The eagle and the bolt of lightning are attributes of Jove.
Contribute
(ambitransitive) To give something that is or becomes part of a larger whole.
To contribute money to a church fund
To contribute articles to a journal
Attribute
(grammar) A word that qualifies a noun.
Contribute
To give or grant i common with others; to give to a common stock or for a common purpose; to furnish or suply in part; to give (money or other aid) for a specified object; as, to contribute food or fuel for the poor.
England contributes much more than any other of the allies.
Attribute
(logic) That which is predicated or affirmed of a subject; a predicate; an accident.
Contribute
To give a part to a common stock; to lend assistance or aid, or give something, to a common purpose; to have a share in any act or effect.
We are engaged in war; the secretary of state calls upon the colonies to contribute.
Attribute
An option or setting belonging to some object.
This packet has its coherency attribute set to zero.
A file with the read-only attribute set cannot be overwritten.
Contribute
To give or use one's power or influence for any object; to assist.
These men also contributed to obstruct the progress of wisdom.
Attribute
(programming) A semantic item with which a method or other code element may be decorated.
Properties can be marked as obsolete with an attribute, which will cause the compiler to generate a warning if they are used.
Contribute
Bestow a quality on;
Her presence lends a certain cachet to the company
The music added a lot to the play
She brings a special atmosphere to our meetings
This adds a light note to the program
Attribute
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Contribute
Contribute to some cause;
I gave at the office
Attribute
A numeric value representing the colours of part of the screen display.
Contribute
Be conducive to;
The use of computers in the classroom lead to better writing
Attribute
To ascribe (something) to a given cause, reason etc.
Contribute
Provide;
The city has to put up half the required amount
Attribute
To associate ownership or authorship of (something) to someone.
This poem is attributed to Browning.
Attribute
To ascribe; to consider (something) as due or appropriate (to); to refer, as an effect to a cause; to impute; to assign; to consider as belonging (to).
We attribute nothing to God that hath any repugnancy or contradiction in it.
The merit of service is seldom attributed to the true and exact performer.
Attribute
That which is attributed; a quality which is considered as belonging to, or inherent in, a person or thing; an essential or necessary property or characteristic.
But mercy is above this sceptered away; . . .It is an attribute to God himself.
Attribute
Reputation.
Attribute
A conventional symbol of office, character, or identity, added to any particular figure; as, a club is the attribute of Hercules.
Attribute
Quality, etc., denoted by an attributive; an attributive adjunct or adjective.
Attribute
A construct whereby objects or individuals can be distinguished;
Self-confidence is not an endearing property
Attribute
An abstraction belonging to or characteristic of an entity
Attribute
Attribute or credit to;
We attributed this quotation to Shakespeare
People impute great cleverness to cats
Attribute
Decide as to where something belongs in a scheme;
The biologist assigned the mushroom to the proper class
Attribute
To regard something as being caused by.
He attributes his success to hard work and dedication.
FAQs
Can attribute refer to inherent qualities only?
No, attribute can refer to both inherent and assigned qualities or characteristics.
Can one attribute outcomes to multiple factors?
Yes, outcomes can be attributed to multiple interacting factors or causes.
Can contribute mean giving money only?
No, contribute can mean giving money, time, effort, ideas, or anything of value.
Can contributing lead to shared responsibility?
Yes, contributing to a cause or effort often implies a degree of shared responsibility.
Can contribution be both tangible and intangible?
Yes, contribution can be tangible like money or intangible like ideas or support.
Can attribute be used in the context of art?
Yes, works of art can be attributed to certain artists or periods based on their characteristics.
Is contribution always beneficial?
Not necessarily, contributions can be beneficial or detrimental depending on their nature and context.
Is attributing always conclusive?
No, attributing is often based on observation, inference, or opinion and may not be conclusive.
Does attributing imply certainty?
Not always, attributing can involve speculation or hypothesis based on available evidence.
Can I contribute to a discussion?
Absolutely, contributing to a discussion means adding your ideas, viewpoints, or information to it.
Can attribute be used to denote positive qualities only?
No, attribute can be used to denote both positive and negative qualities or causes.
Is contributing always voluntary?
Not necessarily, one can be required or compelled to contribute depending on the context.
Can we attribute characteristics to non-living things?
Yes, characteristics can be attributed to both living and non-living entities.
Can an attribute refer to a symbol in computing?
Yes, in computing, an attribute can refer to a property or characteristic of an object, element, or file.
Can contribution be measured?
Contributions can often be measured, especially if they are tangible, but not always.
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Edited by
Aimie CarlsonAimie Carlson, holding a master's degree in English literature, is a fervent English language enthusiast. She lends her writing talents to Difference Wiki, a prominent website that specializes in comparisons, offering readers insightful analyses that both captivate and inform.
