acknowledgment of fault

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "acknowledgment of fault" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where someone admits to a mistake or wrongdoing. Example: "The company's acknowledgment of fault in the incident helped to rebuild trust with its customers."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Sexual assault victims can begin the healing process if there's an acknowledgment of fault.

The New York Times - Sports

The report represents the clearest American acknowledgment of fault in connection with the attacks.

The New York Times

Robert L. Gould, a CSX spokesman, said the agreement "is in no way an acknowledgment of fault or blame.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

These include an acknowledgment of the fault or offense, regret for it and responsibility for it — and, if possible, a way to fix the problem, said Holly Weeks, a communications consultant and author of "Failure to Communicate: How Conversations Go Wrong and What You Can Do to Right Them" (Harvard Business Press, 2008).

The New York Times

Besides, downsizing can look like an acknowledgment of error.

The New York Times

Usually, there is no explicit acknowledgment of error.

Forbes

This suggests that the court's acknowledgment of a doctor's fault, including faulty management and technical mistakes, strongly influences the acknowledgment of physician liability in a court decision.

BMC Family Practice

Finally, regarding litigation, the ratio of the acknowledgment of the doctor's fault by the courts to the decision in the patient's favor was higher compared with the decision in favor of the doctor or hospital (p = 0.000).

BMC Family Practice

Admission of fault?

Huffington Post

An apology for ME implies admission of fault and expression of regret for the action and sympathy for the results, but does not necessarily contain an acknowledgment of responsibility [ 44].

BMC Medical Ethics

Patients who were not at fault, or denied being at fault despite a police report of fault, experienced poorer outcomes than the at fault group.

BMJ Open

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "acknowledgment of fault" when you want to emphasize the act of recognizing and admitting an error or wrongdoing. It is particularly appropriate in formal or official contexts, such as legal proceedings, business communications, or public statements.

Common error

Be careful not to use "acknowledgment of fault" when you actually mean "acceptance of responsibility". Acknowledgment simply means admitting the fault exists; acceptance implies taking ownership of the consequences and committing to corrective actions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "acknowledgment of fault" functions as a noun phrase. It typically acts as the subject or object of a sentence, referring to the act or instance of admitting responsibility for an error or wrongdoing. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's used to denote recognition of error.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "acknowledgment of fault" is a noun phrase indicating the admission of a mistake or wrongdoing. As Ludwig AI highlights, this phrase is grammatically correct and can be used effectively in formal and official contexts, though its frequency is relatively rare, and is mainly used in News & Media and Scientific contexts. Related phrases include "admission of culpability" and "acceptance of responsibility". It's important to use this phrase when aiming to convey that a mistake has been recognized and admitted, rather than simply implying responsibility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

admission of culpability

Similar to "acknowledgment of fault", but emphasizes a higher degree of responsibility and blameworthiness.

confession of error

Focuses specifically on admitting a mistake, often in a more formal or official context.

acceptance of responsibility

Highlights the willingness to take ownership of the consequences of an action.

owning up to the mistake

More informal, suggesting a candid and personal admission of wrongdoing.

taking the blame

Emphasizes accepting the negative consequences or censure for a fault.

avowal of guilt

A formal and explicit declaration of guilt, often in a legal or official setting.

recognition of error

Similar to "acknowledgment of fault", but may imply a more detached or intellectual understanding of the mistake.

declaration of liability

A formal and often legal statement of being responsible for damages or harm.

unequivocal apology

An apology that admits fault with no ambiguity

mea culpa

Latin phrase meaning "my fault", indicating an admission of personal responsibility.

FAQs

What does "acknowledgment of fault" mean?

The phrase "acknowledgment of fault" refers to the act of admitting that a mistake, error, or wrongdoing has occurred and accepting that one is responsible.

How can I use "acknowledgment of fault" in a sentence?

You might use "acknowledgment of fault" in a sentence like: "The company's "acknowledgment of fault" in the data breach was a first step toward regaining customer trust."

What are some alternatives to "acknowledgment of fault"?

Alternatives to "acknowledgment of fault" include "admission of culpability", "confession of error", and "acceptance of responsibility" depending on the specific context.

Is there a difference between "acknowledgment of fault" and "admission of fault"?

While similar, "admission of fault" often implies a more direct and explicit confession, whereas "acknowledgment of fault" can sometimes suggest a more subtle or implicit recognition of wrongdoing. "Admission of fault" might come with more legal consequences.