a transfer of blame

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a transfer of blame" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing situations where responsibility for a fault or mistake is shifted from one person or group to another. Example: "In the meeting, there was a clear transfer of blame when the manager pointed fingers at the team for the project's failure."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

These proposals look to me like a transfer of blame for the disease away from food manufacturers and advertisers, and on to those afflicted.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Is the transfer a right to use (license) or a transfer of ownership?

Huffington Post

Request for a transfer of line.

WikiHow

Obtain a Transfer of Title form.

WikiHow

A word of blame and disapprobation.

Yale University

And a sense of blame still lingers.

The New York Times - Arts

Blame was often placed on mothers, including a risk of blame for misaligned paternity.

Ethnicity and Health

Investors must also swallow a big spoonful of blame.

The New York Times

However, unlike Smart who identifies blame with a form of grading that implies moral responsibility Watson does not take aretaic blame to be a general analysis of blame.

SEP

Instead, it became a vicious cycle of blame: the National Department of Health blamed the provinces, the provinces blamed the hospital management, the hospital management blamed the unions, and the unions blamed the SANC, that ironically does not have a mandate for any implementation or participation in financial incentives.

Global Health Action

When expectations are not fulfilled, trust results in an internal attribution of blame, whereas confidence results in an external attribution of blame.

BMJ Open

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a transfer of blame", ensure the context clearly identifies both the original party responsible and the party to whom blame is being shifted.

Common error

Avoid using "a transfer of blame" without specifying who is being blamed and who is being absolved. Vague statements can create confusion and weaken your argument.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a transfer of blame" functions as a noun phrase. It describes the action or instance of shifting responsibility for a fault or mistake from one party to another. According to Ludwig, it is grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Wiki

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a transfer of blame" is a grammatically sound noun phrase used to describe the act of shifting responsibility for a fault or mistake. While considered correct by Ludwig, its usage is relatively rare. The phrase is suitable for neutral contexts and is often used to critique situations where accountability is lacking. Alternatives like "shifting responsibility" or "passing the buck" can be used depending on the desired level of formality and nuance. When employing this phrase, ensure clarity in identifying both the original and the new parties involved in the blame transfer.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

shifting responsibility

Focuses on the act of moving responsibility without explicitly mentioning blame.

passing the buck

An idiomatic expression indicating an avoidance of responsibility.

evading accountability

Highlights the act of avoiding being held responsible.

deflecting criticism

Emphasizes redirecting negative feedback away from oneself.

reassigning fault

Highlights the action of assigning fault to another person.

redistributing culpability

Formal and emphasizes the re-allocation of responsibility.

transferring liability

Focuses on moving legal responsibility.

scapegoating

Involves unfairly blaming someone for problems.

attributing blame elsewhere

Describes placing blame on someone or something different.

displacing responsibility

Highlights the act of moving responsibility from one place to another.

FAQs

How can I use "a transfer of blame" in a sentence?

You can use "a transfer of blame" to describe situations where responsibility for a mistake or fault is shifted from one person or group to another. For example: "There was "a transfer of blame" from the CEO to the marketing team after the failed product launch."

What are some alternatives to "a transfer of blame"?

Some alternatives include "shifting responsibility", "passing the buck", or "evading accountability" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "a transfer of blame" a formal or informal phrase?

"A transfer of blame" is generally considered a neutral phrase suitable for both formal and informal contexts. However, more informal alternatives like "passing the buck" might be more appropriate for casual conversations.

What's the difference between "a transfer of blame" and "scapegoating"?

"A transfer of blame" simply describes the act of shifting responsibility, while "scapegoating" implies unfairly blaming someone, often to deflect attention from other issues.