a major responsibility

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a major responsibility" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing significant duties or obligations that someone has in a particular role or situation. Example: "As the project manager, overseeing the team's progress is a major responsibility that I take very seriously."

✓ Grammatically correct

Shareholders have a major responsibility here.

Spectator's safety is a major responsibility in public facilities.

Took on a major responsibility or won an award.

Reliability may be a major responsibility in space programs.

Freedom came a major responsibility to get the story right.

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Shareholders, the owners, have a major responsibility here.

The Guardian - Opinion

Therefore, the spectator's safety is a major responsibility in heavily used public facilities.

Procedia Engineering

"Or, if you just took on a major responsibility or won an award".

The New York Times

When reliability is very important, as in space programs, it may be a major responsibility.

Encyclopedia Britannica

But with that freedom came a major responsibility to get the story right, Smith said.

The Washington Post

A major responsibility for the ground operation is being assumed by South Vietnam ese forces.

The New York Times

Second, a major responsibility of corporate boards is to replace the CEO when needed.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Having adopted such a strong rhetoric, there is the belief that Turkey has a major responsibility," he said.

The New Yorker

As one of the three great statesmen at Versailles, Lloyd George must bear a major responsibility for the peace settlement.

Encyclopedia Britannica

A major responsibility for Mr. Bernich and his workers is tending to the pressing machines, which demand constant adjustment.

The New York Times

She carried a major responsibility for the establishment of the first child abuse registry in the City.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a major responsibility", ensure the context clearly defines who holds the responsibility and what it entails. This provides clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "a major responsibility" for minor tasks. Reserve it for duties that have a significant impact or require considerable effort and expertise to prevent diluting its importance.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a major responsibility" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as a subject complement or object of a verb. As shown by Ludwig, it indicates a significant obligation or duty.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Science

24%

Encyclopedias

6%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a major responsibility" is a noun phrase used to denote a task or duty of significant importance. Grammatically correct and very common, as confirmed by Ludwig, it appears most frequently in news and media contexts, but also in science and encyclopedias. When using this phrase, ensure clarity about who holds the responsibility and what it involves. Alternatives include "a significant duty" or "a key obligation". Avoid overusing the phrase for trivial tasks to maintain its impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a significant responsibility

Replaces "major" with "significant", emphasizing the importance of the duty.

a key responsibility

Substitutes "major" with "key", highlighting the essential nature of the obligation.

a crucial responsibility

Replaces "major" with "crucial", stressing the critical importance of the duty.

a primary responsibility

Substitutes "major" with "primary", indicating the main or most important duty.

a principal responsibility

Replaces "major" with "principal", highlighting the leading or chief duty.

a considerable responsibility

Replaces "major" with "considerable", emphasizing the substantial nature of the obligation.

a substantial responsibility

Substitutes "major" with "substantial", indicating the significant amount of the duty.

a weighty responsibility

Replaces "major" with "weighty", stressing the seriousness of the responsibility.

a grave responsibility

Substitutes "major" with "grave", indicating a serious or solemn duty.

a heavy responsibility

Replaces "major" with "heavy", emphasizing the burden or difficulty of the responsibility.

FAQs

How can I use "a major responsibility" in a sentence?

You can use "a major responsibility" to highlight an important duty or task, for example: "Overseeing the company's finances is "a major responsibility" of the CFO".

What are some alternatives to using "a major responsibility"?

Alternatives include "a significant duty", "a key obligation", or "a crucial task depending on the specific context".

Is it better to say "a major responsibility" or "an important responsibility"?

"A major responsibility" and "an important responsibility" are similar, but "a major responsibility" suggests a greater level of significance or impact than simply being important. The best choice depends on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

What does it mean when someone says something is "a major responsibility"?

It means that the task or duty is considered to be very important and requires a high level of attention, care, and commitment. It implies that failing to fulfill this responsibility could have significant consequences.