Delegating tasks

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Delegating tasks" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing the act of assigning responsibilities or duties to others, often in a work or team context. Example: "Effective leaders excel at delegating tasks to ensure that projects are completed efficiently."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

37 human-written examples

Delegating tasks to someone else is necessary if you are to take on more and more responsibility.

WikiHow

Both women have trouble delegating tasks.

The New York Times

Shortly before last summer's presidential election Guillermoprieto sat down with the history-making eventual winner, Vicente Fox, who likes to wear cowboy boots and conducts politics like a business, "delegating tasks, making important decisions quickly and sticking to a schedule".

The New York Times - Books

"When you explain to people what you're trying to do, as opposed to just making demands or delegating tasks, you can build instant trust, even if it's just for that short time you're on the phone," he said.

The New York Times

One of the first challenges for a manager can be delegating tasks.

Forbes

The strengths based approach can support and increase team performance by focusing on the members' strengths and by delegating tasks based on these strengths.

Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

23 human-written examples

Dyslexics learn how to delegate tasks early (getting other people to do their homework, for example).

The Economist

Alexandra Mayzler, who owns Thinking Caps Tutoring, has also delegated tasks that don't get done.

The New York Times

The couple work on the production throughout the year, and they delegate tasks to a cadre of colleagues.

The New York Times

And you can check the current status on delegated tasks from a single dashboard.

TechCrunch

For example, locals perceived managers who delegated tasks as "lacking knowledge of the job".

Bandung: Journal of the Global South

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for conciseness, consider alternatives like "assigning duties" or "distributing responsibilities" if the context allows for it.

Common error

Don't use "delegating tasks" without specifying who is delegating and to whom, or what the tasks are. Clarity prevents confusion and ensures effective communication.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "delegating tasks" functions as a gerund phrase, often serving as a noun. It describes the action of assigning responsibilities or duties to others. Ludwig shows its use in various sentences highlighting its role in management, project execution and division of labour.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Science

46%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

17%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "delegating tasks" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to describe the action of assigning responsibilities. As indicated by Ludwig, it's prevalent in professional, scientific, and news contexts. For effective communication, ensure clarity in specifying who is delegating to whom. While alternatives such as "assigning duties" exist, "delegating tasks" is a versatile option suitable for various situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Assigning duties

Focuses on the act of giving someone a specific duty or responsibility, similar to delegating but potentially less formal.

Distributing responsibilities

Focuses on dividing the overall responsibilities among team members or individuals.

Entrusting responsibilities

Highlights the aspect of trusting someone with a task, adding an element of reliance and confidence in the other person's ability.

Allocating assignments

Highlights a formal distribution process, often in structured environments.

Passing on assignments

Suggests a more informal transfer of work, potentially without the same level of formal delegation.

Transferring duties

Implies a shift of duties from one person to another, often due to restructuring or changes in roles.

Outsourcing functions

Implies contracting out tasks to external parties, often for specialized skills or cost efficiency.

Commissioning work

Suggests giving authority and resources to someone to carry out a specific project or task.

Sharing the workload

Emphasizes the distribution of work to alleviate pressure on individuals.

Handing off tasks

Similar to passing on assignments, but it might imply that the tasks are given only temporarily.

FAQs

How can I use "delegating tasks" in a sentence?

You can use "delegating tasks" to describe the act of assigning responsibilities. For example: "Effective leaders excel at "delegating tasks" to ensure projects are completed efficiently."

What are some alternatives to "delegating tasks"?

Alternatives include "assigning duties", "distributing responsibilities", or "entrusting responsibilities", depending on the specific context.

What is the difference between "delegating tasks" and "assigning tasks"?

While similar, "delegating tasks" often implies giving someone the authority and responsibility to complete a task, whereas "assigning tasks" may simply mean giving someone a task to do.

Is "delegating tasks" a formal or informal expression?

"Delegating tasks" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. However, in highly formal settings, you might prefer more technical terms like "allocating assignments".