acknowledgement of wrongdoing

USAGE SUMMARY

'acknowledgement of wrongdoing' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express that a person has accepted responsibility for their mistake. For example, "The bank manager issued an acknowledgement of wrongdoing for the mishandling of customer accounts".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

Jason Giambi's apology, acknowledgement of wrongdoing and acceptance of responsibility are what really mattered.

The New York Times

That requires an acknowledgement of wrongdoing, which could prove to be useful in the numerous civil lawsuits that have been filed against the banks, meaning more money could be paid out to resolve those cases.

The New York Times

"This settlement is not an acknowledgement of wrongdoing on my part, because I did not break any laws or rules while leading Fannie Mae," Raines said in a statement.

The Washington Post

Instead, these defenders generally claim that knowledge and acknowledgement of wrongdoing, as well as recognition of the victims, are crucial to successful reconciliation.

SEP

A true apology consists of a sincere acknowledgement of wrongdoing, a show of empathic remorse for why you wronged and the harm it caused and a promise of restitution by improving ones actions to make things right.

TechCrunch

In both cases there were quick apologies and acknowledgement of wrongdoing.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

There is not much professional oversight or organizational hierarchy in the Buddhist tradition, although every authorized and qualified teacher answers to their own teacher and their own lineage tradition to a certain extent and traditional monasteries in the Old World had their own systems of checks and balances, including communal monthly rituals and acknowledgements of wrongdoing.

HuffPost

My family has never heard an apology, an acknowledgement of any wrongdoing".

The New York Times

That was the extent of Pruitt's acknowledgement of any wrongdoing.

HuffPost

Apologies are frequently valued, not merely as acknowledgements of past wrongdoing and gestures of respect to victims, but also as providing evidence of a positive change in the wrongdoer or in the wrongdoers' group.

SEP

What was unique and interesting about the internal documents was not their classification level but rather their analysis and acknowledgement of significant C.I.A. wrongdoing.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about an "acknowledgement of wrongdoing", ensure the context clearly indicates what specific actions are being acknowledged and what steps are being taken to rectify the situation.

Common error

Avoid using vague language when describing an "acknowledgement of wrongdoing". Be specific about the admitted actions to ensure genuine accountability and prevent misinterpretations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "acknowledgement of wrongdoing" functions as a noun phrase. Based on Ludwig, it's used to denote the act of recognizing and admitting that an action was wrong or inappropriate. The examples show it often appears in formal contexts like legal settlements or public apologies.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "acknowledgement of wrongdoing" is a noun phrase used to describe the act of admitting fault or responsibility for an action. Ludwig AI indicates that while grammatically correct, it's most frequently found in news and media contexts, followed by science and formal business settings. It's important to use precise language when using this phrase, specifying the actions being admitted to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives include "admission of fault" or "acceptance of responsibility", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

admission of fault

Focuses on the act of admitting a mistake or error.

acceptance of responsibility

Highlights taking ownership of the consequences of an action.

taking accountability

Emphasizes the act of being held responsible and answering for one's actions.

confession of guilt

Emphasizes the admission of culpability for a crime or offense.

avowal of misconduct

A more formal and explicit declaration of improper behavior.

declaration of culpability

A formal statement acknowledging responsibility for wrongdoing.

recognition of error

Focuses on acknowledging a mistake, without necessarily admitting culpability.

owning up to mistakes

An informal way of saying someone is admitting their errors

expression of remorse

Highlights the feeling of regret associated with the wrongdoing.

contrition for offense

Highlights the remorseful feeling relating to an offence or wrong

FAQs

How do I use "acknowledgement of wrongdoing" in a sentence?

You can use "acknowledgement of wrongdoing" to describe the act of admitting fault or responsibility for an action. For example, "The company issued an "acknowledgement of wrongdoing" regarding the data breach".

What are some alternatives to "acknowledgement of wrongdoing"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "admission of fault", "acceptance of responsibility", or "confession of guilt".

Is there a difference between "admission of guilt" and "acknowledgement of wrongdoing"?

"Admission of guilt" implies a formal acceptance of culpability, often in a legal context. "Acknowledgement of wrongdoing", on the other hand, can be a more general expression of admitting fault, without necessarily implying legal guilt.

What should be included in a formal "acknowledgement of wrongdoing"?

A formal "acknowledgement of wrongdoing" should include a clear statement of the specific actions that constitute the wrongdoing, an acceptance of responsibility for those actions, an expression of remorse, and a commitment to taking corrective measures to prevent future occurrences.