zugeschrieben

Zugeschrieben is the past participle and an adjective form of the German verb zuschreiben, meaning to attribute or credit something to someone. It is used to indicate that a claim, quality, or achievement has been attributed to a person or group by others, rather than being self-asserted or objectively proven. The term is common in journalism, criticism, history, and everyday language when discussing attributions.

Usage and grammar

The typical construction is jdm etw zuschreiben, where jdm is the recipient in the dative and etw is the thing attributed in the accusative. In sentences with a passive voice, it appears as Es wird jdm etw zugeschrieben. The participle zugeschrieben can also function adjectivally: eine zugeschriebene Eigenschaft, eine zugeschriebene Motivation. The thing attributed can be a trait, a motive, a fault, an achievement, or authorship of a work.

Examples

- Der Kritiker schreibt dem Protagonisten Eigenschaften wie Mut und Entschlossenheit zu.

- Dem Politiker wird die Verantwortung zugeschrieben.

- Es wird ihm zugeschrieben, dass er den Fehler begangen hat.

Etymologie and related terms

The verb zuschreiben is formed from zu- plus schreiben, with the sense evolution from a literal act of writing something to someone to a figurative act of attributing or crediting. Related nouns include Zuschreibung (the act or instance of attributing) and Zuschreiber (the attributer or attributing agent). The concept is distinct from Urheberschaft (authorship) and Zurechnung (attribution or ascription of responsibility).

Usage notes

Zuschreibung signals that an assessment is attributed by others and may be subject to dispute or scrutiny. Distinguishing between widely accepted attributions and contested claims is common in scholarly and journalistic writing.

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