answerability

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "answerability" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts discussing accountability or the obligation to explain or justify actions or decisions. Example: "The committee emphasized the importance of answerability in ensuring transparency and trust within the organization."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

Bishop Gregory also promised the laity that "we bishops will be answerable to you," that "answerability begins with openness" and that the charter would remove "the shroud of secrecy which has undermined your trust in us".

The New York Times

Accountability and answerability are two of the major themes now derived from Magna Carta.

Independent

Sanction is preceded by standard-setting, investigation and answerability.

The Guardian

So Acpo's only answerability in the project to collect data on "domestic extremists" is to satisfy accountants at the Home Office.

The Guardian

At the OGP13 summit in London we saw the work of MKSS, how a small group of activists from Rajasthan in India seeded a national movement that led to a legal guarantee to the right to information and government answerability for over a billion people.

The Guardian

Meanwhile both board and comptroller have some answerability, at least for funds, to an obscure Commons committee called the public accounts commission – not the same thing as the public accounts committee.

The Guardian

Concerns in the supplementing approach include such matters as trust and answerability raised by multiple authorship, the division of cognitive labor, the reliability of peer review, the challenges of privately funded science, as well as concerns arising from the role of scientific research in society.

SEP

Dialogical approaches invoke agents' psychological states, such as the sense of one's own answerability, although they analyze these states as related to external interpersonal conditions.

SEP

In the same vein, several authors pursue "dialogical" conceptions of autonomy in which an agent's answerability to others is the key condition.

SEP

As Westlund's account explicitly acknowledges, she may nevertheless have the capacity for answerability.

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

(TP "The Very Idea of Human Answerability to the World: John McDowell's Version of Empiricism").

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "answerability" when emphasizing the need for individuals or organizations to explain their actions or decisions, particularly in contexts where transparency and accountability are crucial.

Common error

Avoid using "answerability" as a mere synonym for responsibility. "Answerability" implies a structured system or expectation of providing justification or explanation for one's actions, not just acknowledging responsibility.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "answerability" is as a noun, representing the state or quality of being answerable. Ludwig AI confirms this usage through numerous examples where "answerability" acts as a subject or object within a sentence, highlighting its role in discussions of responsibility and accountability.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "answerability" functions as a noun that denotes the state of being accountable and required to provide justifications for one's actions. Ludwig AI validates its correct grammatical usage and its prevalence in formal contexts such as news, science, and business, where transparency and the obligation to explain decisions are paramount. While closely related to "accountability" and "responsibility", "answerability" uniquely emphasizes the requirement for providing a rationale. Understanding its precise usage helps to promote clarity and precision in discussions about governance, ethics, and organizational structure.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

accountability

Focuses more on the obligation to accept responsibility for one's actions.

responsibility

Emphasizes the state or fact of having a duty to deal with something.

liability

Highlights the state of being legally obligated or responsible.

culpability

Specifically denotes the degree to which someone is morally blameworthy.

imputability

Refers to the quality of being ascribable to a cause or source.

amenability

Suggests being responsive or open to suggestion and control.

justifiability

Highlights the quality of being capable of being shown to be right or reasonable.

defensibility

Emphasizes the capacity to be maintained or justified against attack or criticism.

responsiveness

Focuses on the quality of reacting quickly and positively.

openness to scrutiny

Indicates a willingness to be examined or investigated closely.

FAQs

How does "answerability" differ from accountability?

"Answerability" emphasizes the obligation to explain and justify actions, while "accountability" focuses on accepting responsibility for the consequences of those actions. "Answerability" is about providing the rationale, whereas accountability is about owning the outcome.

When is it appropriate to use "answerability" in a sentence?

Use "answerability" when you want to highlight the requirement for someone to provide explanations or justifications for their decisions or actions, particularly in formal or structured settings. For example, "The new policy aims to improve the government's answerability to the public."

What are some alternatives to "answerability"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "accountability", "responsibility", or "liability". "Accountability" is often the closest synonym, but each word carries slightly different nuances.

Is "answerability" a formal or informal term?

"Answerability" is generally considered a formal term, often used in professional, academic, or legal contexts. In informal settings, simpler terms like "responsibility" or "accountability" might be more appropriate.