....credit you with his improvement in English.........

My son's teacher said my son's English improved a lot over the last few months, and he started to enjoy it. I wrote back, 'True! I credit you with his improvement. Thank you!!'

One day later, I thought of what I wrote and looked it up. It seems 'credit someone with something' is rarely used, right?

How do you think of my reply? What would you say to express the same meaning?

Thank you and good morning. :)

Question

....credit you with his improvement in English.........

My son's teacher said my son's English improved a lot over the last few months, and he started to enjoy it. I wrote back, 'True! I credit you with his improvement. Thank you!!'

One day later, I thought of what I wrote and looked it up. It seems 'credit someone with something' is rarely used, right?

How do you think of my reply? What would you say to express the same meaning?

Thank you and good morning. :)

Answer

Your reply makes perfect sense. It may not be commonly used to say “I credit you with…” but the way you used it is correct.  The other way you could have said this maybe “thanks to you” for example: he is making good progress thanks to you. Or thanks to you his English has  improved.