a principal responsibility

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a principal responsibility" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a primary or main duty or obligation in a professional or organizational context. Example: "As the project manager, my principal responsibility is to ensure that the team meets all deadlines and delivers high-quality work."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

However Morrison said he had been "underwhelmed" with the agreement's ability to reduce homelessness, which he said was "a principal responsibility of the states".

The Guardian

He was chosen by other inmates to be chief of security with a principal responsibility to protect outsiders brought in to negotiate an end to the crisis.

The New York Times

Ariel Sharon once called him the "greatest obstacle to peace and stability in the Middle East" – a "principal responsibility" sort of argument that has historically been launched at the occupied more than the occupier.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Elliot Smith encouraged Zuckerman's interest in comparative anatomy and psychology, and, after taking his MD in 1928, Zuckerman was appointed prosector at the London Zoo – a job whose principal responsibility was to determine the cause of the (numerous) deaths among the zoo's primate inhabitants.

History of the Human Sciences

The principal responsibility of a modern central bank differs according to the choice of monetary standard.

Encyclopedia Britannica

So, my principal responsibility by a country mile, my most important responsibility is governing the country well, with no ulterior motive other than to govern the country well and that's what I'll focus on doing.

The Economist

Principal responsibility is shifting from an organisation's chief operating officer to the tax department, who have less interest or influence in reducing energy use.

The Guardian

His principal responsibility was to draw up a Constitution for the new country, which became an independent nation on March 21 , 1990

The New York Times

Last December, James M. Mahoney, a vice president at the New York Fed who said he had principal responsibility for the Maiden Lane II transaction, testified that the New York Fed intended to receive litigation claims associated with the troubled mortgage securities.

The New York Times

During the raids, 20 officers from what is officially known as Scotland Yard's special operations unit, whose principal responsibility is counterterrorism, took Mr. Green's fingerprints and a DNA sample, seized his cellphone and BlackBerry, and froze his parliamentary e-mail account.

The New York Times

Dr. Singh's position was that the State has responsibility for the provision of education and that "the principal responsibility of education lies with Governments, thus emphasizing a need to preserve education as a public good, which must not be reduced to a profit-making business".

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a principal responsibility", clearly define the context and scope of the responsibility to avoid ambiguity. For instance, specify whose responsibility it is and what it entails.

Common error

Avoid using "a principal responsibility" when referring to minor or secondary tasks. Reserve this phrase for duties that are genuinely critical and central to the overall objective.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a principal responsibility" functions as a noun phrase, often acting as a subject complement or an object of a preposition. It identifies a significant duty or obligation, as illustrated by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Encyclopedias

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a principal responsibility" is used to denote a key or main duty. Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically correct, though relatively rare in usage. Its primary function is to clearly define a significant obligation, often in formal contexts such as news, science, and encyclopedic entries. Consider related phrases like "a primary responsibility" or "a chief responsibility" to achieve specific nuances. When using "a principal responsibility", ensure the context clearly defines the scope and assignment of the duty. While the phrase itself is correct, avoid overstating the importance of minor tasks by using it inappropriately.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a primary responsibility

Replaces "principal" with "primary", emphasizing the main or foremost duty.

a chief responsibility

Substitutes "principal" with "chief", highlighting the leading or most important duty.

a main responsibility

Uses "main" instead of "principal", indicating the most important or central duty.

a key responsibility

Replaces "principal" with "key", emphasizing the crucial or essential nature of the duty.

a core responsibility

Uses "core" instead of "principal", focusing on the fundamental or central duty.

a central responsibility

Substitutes "principal" with "central", highlighting the duty at the heart of the matter.

a leading responsibility

Replaces "principal" with "leading", indicating a significant or guiding duty.

an overriding responsibility

Uses "overriding" instead of "principal", emphasizing the paramount or superior nature of the duty.

a foremost responsibility

Substitutes "principal" with "foremost", highlighting the duty that comes first or is most prominent.

a paramount responsibility

Replaces "principal" with "paramount", indicating the supreme or highest duty.

FAQs

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

You can use "a principal responsibility" to describe a main duty or obligation. For instance: "Ensuring data security is "a principal responsibility" of the IT department."

What are some alternatives to "a principal responsibility"?

Alternatives include "a primary responsibility", "a chief responsibility", or "a main responsibility depending" on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "the principal responsibility" instead of "a principal responsibility"?

Both can be correct, but they have slightly different meanings. "A principal responsibility" implies one of several important responsibilities, while "the principal responsibility" suggests it is the single most important one.

What is the difference between "a principal responsibility" and "a main duty"?

While similar, ""a principal responsibility"" often suggests a higher level of importance or authority compared to "a main duty". The former is often used in more formal or official contexts.