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

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

I agree with amuminscotland.

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

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

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."

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

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?

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

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

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.

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

hahaha