Be held accountable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Be held accountable" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing responsibility or the expectation that someone will answer for their actions or decisions. Example: "In our organization, we believe that all team members should be held accountable for their contributions to the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Violators will be held accountable.

Independent

Someone had to be held accountable.

The Economist

Gene wants Berman to be held accountable.

The New Yorker

"He wanted to be held accountable.

The New York Times - Sports

Those waywards must be held accountable".

The New York Times

And she had to be "held accountable".

The New Yorker

"Will they not be held accountable?

The New York Times

"Susan Rice needs to be held accountable".

The New York Times

They deserve to be held accountable.

The New York Times

"They need to be held accountable".

The New York Times - Sports

He deserves to be held accountable.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "be held accountable" in situations where there's an expectation of oversight or a system for ensuring responsibility. It implies a structured approach to ensuring consequences for actions.

Common error

Avoid using "be held accountable" loosely. Ensure there's a clear link between the action and the consequence. Attributing accountability without due process undermines its purpose and effectiveness.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "be held accountable" is to express passive voice, indicating that someone will receive the consequences of their actions. As Ludwig AI confirms, this expression signifies responsibility. Many examples show its usage in various contexts, from personal responsibility to institutional oversight.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Formal & Business

10%

Science

5%

Less common in

Academia

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "be held accountable" is a common and grammatically sound way to express the idea that someone will be answerable for their actions and face the consequences. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's widely used across various contexts, particularly in news and media, to assign responsibility and ensure that actions have repercussions. To enhance clarity, ensure the subject of accountability is clearly defined. While "be held accountable" is versatile, consider synonyms like "be held responsible" or "be liable" to tailor the nuance of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be responsible

Indicates a general sense of duty and obligation for one's actions or decisions.

be liable

Focuses on legal responsibility and the potential for facing legal consequences.

face the consequences

Emphasizes the negative outcomes that result from one's actions.

bear the responsibility

Highlights the obligation to manage and be in charge of something.

answer for actions

Stresses the need to explain and justify one's behavior.

be called to account

Suggests a formal process of being asked to explain one's actions.

take the blame

Implies accepting culpability for mistakes or wrongdoing.

be brought to justice

Highlights the legal and ethical imperative to address wrongdoing through the justice system.

be penalized

Focuses specifically on receiving a punishment or penalty for misconduct.

face judgment

Indicates that one will be evaluated and potentially criticized for their actions.

FAQs

How to use "be held accountable" in a sentence?

The phrase "be held accountable" is used to indicate that someone is responsible for their actions and will face consequences if they fail to meet expectations. For example: "The manager will "be held accountable" for the team's performance this quarter."

What can I say instead of "be held accountable"?

You can use alternatives like "be held responsible", "be liable", or "answer for actions depending on the context.

What's the difference between "be held accountable" and "be held responsible"?

"Be held accountable" often implies a formal system of oversight and consequences, while "be held responsible" can be a more general expression of duty or obligation. The choice depends on the specific context and the level of formality.

When is it appropriate to use "be held accountable" in writing?

Use "be held accountable" when you want to emphasize that someone will be answerable for their actions and that there will be repercussions for failing to meet expectations. It's common in professional, news, and formal settings.