Can I be traced if I use VPN?

Excuse me, could you please clarify something for me? I've been hearing a lot about VPNs and how they can help protect my online privacy. But I'm still a bit unsure - if I use a VPN, can my online activities still be traced back to me? I understand that VPNs encrypt my data and route it through a different server, but is there still a risk of being identified? I'd appreciate any insights you can provide on this matter. Thank you in advance.