Attribute something as?

[Guest]

Hi, can you attribute something as something? For example can you say People around the world still attribute this book as being the foundation of today's investment markets?
I look forward to your answers and would like to thank you in advance!

[Mister Micawber]

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It sounds odd to me, and I would call it unacceptable.

Attribute A to B. (verb)
B is an attribute of A (noun)
A is attributable to B (adjective)

These are the forms I know.
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Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's

[Guest]

Hello Mr. Micawber,

Thank you for your answer. Could the verb attribute be replaced with another one? I have this audio CD 'The Strangest Secrect' by Earl Nightingale. In the introduction Earl Nightingales says that sentence, I've listened to it many times and I still can't quite make out which verb she uses.
Thank you in advance.

[Mister Micawber]

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It's difficult for me to imagine all the possibilities, but so long as we maintain the attribute to structure, I can see its being used at least with the -ing form:

They attributed losing the race to falling asleep at the wheel.

No other formation springs to mind, but perhaps you could give us a transcript of what you think you hear on your CD.
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Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's

[Guest]

Hello Mr Micawer,

Here is what I believe the sentence to be (after listening to it at least 10 times):

People around the world attribute the strangest sectrect as being the one message that has most positively affected their lives.
Regards
Tanja

[Mister Micawber]

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Hi Tanja,

Your transcription seems accurate.

You should keep in mind that speakers often speak ungrammatically. To confirm my opinion, I just googled attribute as, and found that the collocation appears only with the noun (e.g. can declare an attribute as one of three general types); so the speaker on your CD has just, I believe, made a slip of the tongue, or has a poor idea of the accepted usage.

A happier alternative would be: People around the world attribute to the strangest secret its being the one message that has most positively affected their lives.
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Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's

[Guest]

Hello Mister Micawber. Thank for your explanation! Best regards. Tanja