acknowledged responsibility for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "acknowledged responsibility for" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing accountability or recognition of one's duty or obligation regarding a particular issue or situation. Example: "The company acknowledged responsibility for the environmental damage caused by its operations."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

26 human-written examples

The city and Bovis ultimately acknowledged responsibility for the deaths.

The New York Times

Israel has not publicly acknowledged responsibility for those strikes.

The New York Times

Libya has since acknowledged responsibility for the bombing.

The New York Times

President Clinton has acknowledged responsibility for his actions.

The New York Times

Mr. Khadr also acknowledged responsibility for his acts and apologized to Ms. Speer.

The New York Times

In 1997, Israel acknowledged responsibility for a failed effort to kill the Hamas leader Khaled Meshal.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

31 human-written examples

Commemorations provided by groups responsible for wrongdoing may demonstrate a willingness to acknowledge responsibility for such wrongs, (renewed) respect for the victims, and commitment never to repeat such misdeeds (Barsalou and Baxter 2007, Blustein 2014).

SEP

In one meeting he protested that Israel could not acknowledge responsibility for the refugee problem.

The Guardian

It took the British government 38 years to acknowledge responsibility for Bloody Sunday.

The Guardian - Opinion

Glasman recently told an interviewer that Labour must acknowledge "responsibility for the generation of far-right populism".

The New Yorker

Why do some believe that Turkey will eventually acknowledge responsibility for the genocide, according to the article?

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "acknowledged responsibility for", ensure that the subject clearly and unequivocally accepts the obligation or fault in question. For example, 'The CEO acknowledged responsibility for the company's financial losses' leaves no room for ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "acknowledged responsibility for" when the context actually warrants taking credit or receiving praise. This phrase implies acceptance of blame or duty, not achievement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "acknowledged responsibility for" functions as a verb phrase indicating the explicit acceptance of duty or fault for something. Ludwig examples show its use across various contexts where an entity admits its role in an event.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Encyclopedias

15%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "acknowledged responsibility for" is a common and grammatically correct way to express the act of accepting duty or fault, frequently appearing in news and media, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It's important to use this phrase when the context genuinely involves admitting a mistake or obligation. While synonyms like "accepted liability for" exist, "acknowledged responsibility for" often carries a more formal or public connotation. Remember to distinguish its usage from taking credit, and use it precisely to convey acceptance of duty or fault.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

taken responsibility for

Implies accepting duty and the repercussions of an action or decision.

accepted liability for

Focuses specifically on legal or financial culpability.

assumed accountability for

Highlights the act of taking on the burden of accountability.

taken the blame for

Focuses specifically on accepting the fault for something.

admitted culpability in

Formally confesses guilt or blameworthiness in a situation.

claimed ownership of

Emphasizes taking possession of the outcome, whether positive or negative.

confessed to

Highlights the act of admitting wrongdoing.

owned up to

An informal way of saying someone admitted fault or responsibility.

pledged to atone for

Includes a commitment to make amends, adding a layer of restorative action.

borne the burden of

Highlights enduring the consequences of an action.

FAQs

How can I use "acknowledged responsibility for" in a sentence?

Use "acknowledged responsibility for" when you want to indicate that someone or an entity has admitted to being the cause of something, usually something negative. For example, 'The government "acknowledged responsibility for" the error in the report'.

What's the difference between ""acknowledged responsibility for"" and "accepted responsibility for"?

While both phrases are similar, ""acknowledged responsibility for"" suggests a formal or public admission, whereas "accepted responsibility for" can imply a more private or personal acceptance of duty.

What can I say instead of ""acknowledged responsibility for"" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using "accepted liability for" or "assumed accountability for". These phrases carry a stronger connotation of formal acceptance of consequences.

When is it appropriate to use ""acknowledged responsibility for""?

It's appropriate to use ""acknowledged responsibility for"" when an individual or organization is formally recognizing their role in a particular event or situation, typically one that involves an error or negative outcome.