accout for

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Lazypierrot - 30 Apr 2009 01:15 GMT

Hi ! I would like to know the meaning of the phrase ***account for***
in the following passage.

The increase in female employment has also ***accounted for*** a large
part of global growth in recent decades. GDP growth can come from
three sources: employing more people, using more capital per worker,
or an increase in the productivity of labor and capital due to new
technology.

I wonder if the phrase ***accout for*** means 1) to form a particular
amount or part of something, or 2) to be the reason why something
happens(=explain) , or else.

Thank you in advance.

LP

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Robert Lieblich - 30 Apr 2009 03:00 GMT

> Hi ! I would like to know the meaning of the phrase ***account for***
> in the following passage.
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> amount or part of something, or 2) to be the reason why something
> happens(=explain) , or else.

In this particular context, one good paraphrase is "been responsible
for." Even "caused" is okay. "Account for" has many shades of
meaning, and they are very much dependent on context.

Signature

Bob Lieblich
Neither a con nor a text

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BMCT2010 - 16 May 2009 16:38 GMT

> Hi ! I would like to know the meaning of the phrase ***account for***
> in the following passage.
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
>
> LP

In this sense, "account for" means "is responsible for."

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Discussion Groups / English Usage / May 2009

accout for