accept the burden

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "accept the burden" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the act of taking on responsibility or dealing with a difficult situation. Example: "In times of crisis, leaders must accept the burden of making tough decisions for the greater good."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

29 human-written examples

"I accept the burden".

The Guardian - Books

A willingness to accept the burden of true leadership.

The Guardian

But is China prepared to accept the burden of leadership?

The Washington Post

The genealogy she is tracing reveals our own failures to accept the burden of our country's moral and cultural inheritance.

The Guardian - Books

The administration needs to create a long-term military strategy and accept the burden of providing the troops to carry it out.

The New York Times

"He added that that was why he had ultimately decided--after resisting for a long time--to accept the burden of political responsibility".

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

31 human-written examples

"A central difference between those cases Colonnade and Biswell and this one is that businessmen engaged in such federally licensed and regulated enterprises accept the burdens as well as the benefits of their trade, whereas the petitioner here was not engaged in any regulated or licensed business.

Cornell University

And in 1977, amid the modern troubles of northern cities, he wrote an influential essay, Urban Decline in Late Medieval England, which showed that towns in that period had economic problems, but also suffered from a reluctance of civic leaders to accept the burdens of office.

The Guardian

There is thus a reasonable, rational basis for a State to conclude that persons owing first loyalty to this country will grasp these traditions and apply our concepts more than those who seek the benefits of American citizenship while declining to accept the burdens of citizenship in this country.

Cornell University

Reasonable citizens accept the burdens of judgment.

SEP

All accept the burdens and conformity, the monotony and changelessness of communal society.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "accept the burden" when you want to emphasize both the act of taking on a responsibility and the difficulties or hardships that come with it. It's particularly effective when describing leadership, moral obligations, or significant personal challenges.

Common error

Avoid using "accept the burden" in trivial situations. The phrase carries a weight of seriousness, so opt for simpler alternatives like "handle it" or "take care of it" when the context isn't particularly challenging or significant.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "accept the burden" functions as a verb phrase acting as the predicate of a sentence. It indicates a decision to willingly take on a difficult or onerous responsibility. Ludwig examples show its use in contexts ranging from political responsibility to personal challenges. The AI confirms the phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "accept the burden" is a grammatically sound and meaningful expression used to convey the act of willingly taking on a difficult responsibility. According to Ludwig AI, it is correct and appropriate for formal to neutral contexts. Analysis of Ludwig's examples indicates it's most frequently found in news media, with science and formal/business contexts also present. While interchangeable alternatives exist, such as "assume the responsibility" or "shoulder the responsibility", each carries its nuance. As a writer, it's useful to reserve the phrase for situations that genuinely involve significant hardship, ensuring its impact isn't diluted. In summary, "accept the burden" is a powerful and appropriate choice when the aim is to describe embracing a challenging obligation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

assume the responsibility

Focuses more on the act of taking responsibility rather than the hardship associated with it.

shoulder the responsibility

Emphasizes bearing the weight of the responsibility, highlighting the effort required.

bear the weight

Highlights enduring hardship or pressure, less specific about responsibility.

take on the onus

Formally indicates assuming a duty or obligation, often legal or ethical.

embrace the challenge

Focuses on the positive aspect of confronting a difficult task, reframing it as an opportunity.

face the music

Implies accepting the consequences of one's actions, often negative.

grin and bear it

Suggests enduring hardship with a positive attitude, often reluctantly.

resign yourself to

Implies accepting something unpleasant that cannot be avoided.

take it on the chin

Describes accepting adversity bravely and without complaint.

lump it

Informally suggests accepting something undesirable without protest.

FAQs

How can I use "accept the burden" in a sentence?

You can use "accept the burden" to describe someone willingly taking on a difficult responsibility. For example, "The new leader decided to "accept the burden" of reforming the struggling organization".

What can I say instead of "accept the burden"?

You can use alternatives like "assume the responsibility", "shoulder the responsibility", or "take on the onus depending on the context and level of formality desired.

Which is correct, "accept the burden" or "assume the burden"?

Both ""accept the burden"" and "assume the burden" are correct, but they have slightly different connotations. "Accept the burden" emphasizes the hardship involved, while "assume the burden" focuses more on the act of taking responsibility.

What's the difference between "accept the burden" and "embrace the challenge"?

"Accept the burden" implies acknowledging and taking on a difficult task with potential negative consequences. "Embrace the challenge", however, suggests viewing the task as an opportunity for growth and development.