Do you credit someone "with" or "for"

[expatkat]

Do you say:

She credits him with her decision to become a doctor

or

She credits him for her decision to become a doctor

In America it's definitely "with"

But the more I look at the sentences the more confused i get.

thanks if you can help

[AMumInScotland]

I think I would credit them with something
But (more usually) give them credit for something

[JackieNo]

I agree with amuminscotland.

[Quattrocento]

it depends whether you are crediting with or crediting for

I credit you with common sense

I am giving you credit for your good decision to check on mumsnet

[expatkat]

Oh dear, I'm too thick for this.

I'll have to ask one of you to do this for me.

I'm trying to say something like this in structure (but not in content):

Jane credits her university professor Dr X, who believed that Freud was useless, with her decision to focus on cognitive behavioural therapy.

is the "with" correct here

[and if the sentence is rubbish can be written in another way please suggest how]

thank you

[AMumInScotland]

I think the "with" is fine, but I'm a bit worried about the "her" in the final part - it could be Dr X's decision, rather than Jane's.

Could you put:

"Jane credits her university professor Dr X, who believed that Freud was useless, with influencing her decision to focus on cognitive behavioural therapy."

[AMumInScotland]

Or even "with convincing her to focus..."?

[Bluestocking]

It's with.
"She credits him with her decision to become a doctor."
But you could also say:
"She gives him credit for her decision to become a doctor."
Although that does sound a bit odd, as though he was in some way able to make the decision for her. Why do you need to know?

[expatkat]

bluestocking

I'm writing a bio75 words or sobut (annoyingly) I'm not allowed to write a straightforward bio, I'm required to write something witty and unexpected like "I once played catch with Sylvia Plath." So I'm trying to mention an eccentric and influential professor, yet I have to squash the anecdote into a tiny amount of space, hence the way I've structured the sentence.

Interesting points AMuminScotland--maybe I'll rethink

[AllFallDown]

No. It's for. She's crediting her for her decision. Unless her decision offers credit to the university professor.

[expatkat]

Oh heck, Allfalldown, I sent in the bio yesterday with "with", taking on amuminscotlands suggestion to use "influence". Hopefully someone will pick up on it if it's wrong.

[AllFallDown]

I don't think anyone will care that much, to be honest ... You're in Pedants' Corner here, not normal people's corner,

[expatkat]

hahaha