misattribute

Misattribute is a verb meaning to assign a statement, behavior, or achievement to a person or source that is not responsible. In practice, misattribution occurs when information is credited to an incorrect origin, often due to memory error, rumor, or insufficient verification.

Misattribution occurs in several domains. For quotes and ideas, a phrase or concept may be attributed to the wrong author, leading to a misquotation and distortion of historical record. In science, misattribution can affect credit for discoveries or methods, sometimes complicating citations and reproducibility. In memory and cognition, cryptomnesia describes a misattribution where a forgotten idea or memory is mistaken for original thought. In the arts, works or samples may be wrongly credited, with implications for royalties and rights.

Causes include poor source checking, confirmation bias, and the rapid spread of information through social networks. Deliberate deception or sloppy scholarship can also produce misattribution, as can translation errors or name similarities across cultures.

Prevention relies on careful verification of sources and provenance. Practices include citing primary sources, quoting accurately, documenting attribution trails, and using reliable databases. When misattribution is detected, prompt correction and transparent errata help repair the record.