Crossword Genius

Attribute that makes a writer (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

ascribe

'attribute' is the definition.
(I know that attribute can be written as ascribe)

'a writer' is the wordplay.
'writer' becomes 'scribe' (scribe is a kind of writer).
'a'+'scribe'='ASCRIBE'

'that makes' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for ascribe that I've seen before include "'Impute, assign (7)'" , "Attribute to, say, an old writer?" , "put down" , "Attribute to specified source or cause" , "'Attribute, assign (7)'" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail and The Irish News.
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