answerable for this

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "answerable for this" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing accountability or responsibility for a specific action or situation. Example: "As the project manager, I am answerable for this decision and its outcomes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

"Somebody has got to be answerable for this," he said.

The Guardian

Why? Who is answerable for this?" Even if Aam Aadmi wins only a small number of Delhi's parliamentary seats — a real possibility, given India's first-past-the-post system — it will challenge assumptions that have long undergirded Indian politics.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

The charity is answerable for the expenditure of this money in the most efficient way possible and as discussed above its staff do not always see OA as the best way of meeting organisational objectives.

BMJ Open

No single agency or individual seemed answerable for the problems.

The New York Times - Travel

Brad is answerable for that, and he knows it.

The Guardian - Sport

And it means being answerable for the dodgy judgment of appointing Mal Brough in the first place.

The Guardian - Opinion

Adamantly refusing the notion that the British writer's portrayal of African barbarity might be excused by his socio-historical context, Achebe makes Conrad, the man, answerable for the offensive stereotypes he promulgates as a writer.

The New York Times - Books

The magazine is not, of course, answerable for the reactionary position in which Hughes became more conspicuously at home following his appointment as poet laureate, and whose latter stages are depressingly recorded in Jonathan Bate's recent biography.

The Guardian - Books

Finally, Hutton will be answerable for the success or failure of the six-year programme to make all public services available online by the end of this year, and to ensure that reasonable numbers of people use them.

The Guardian - Tech

Sarbanes-Oxley also restructured how auditing was handled to give the process more independence, effectively made executives and directors answerable for the financial integrity of their companies and codified legal and civic penalties for noncompliance.

The New York Times

As MUTV debated the latest stumbling, incoherent expression of what their manager calls his "philosophy", Gordon McQueen exclaimed: "What you have to remember is that this club has spent a quarter of a billion pounds on players and somebody should be answerable for that".

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "answerable for this" when you want to emphasize a formal obligation to explain or justify actions or outcomes, especially to a higher authority.

Common error

While "answerable for this" is grammatically correct, avoid using it in contexts where simpler alternatives like "responsible for this" or "accountable for this" would be more natural and direct. Overusing formal phrasing can make your writing sound stilted.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "answerable for this" functions as a predicate adjective phrase, modifying a noun or pronoun and indicating a state of accountability or responsibility. Ludwig AI confirms its usability.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Encyclopedias

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "answerable for this" is a grammatically correct phrase used to denote responsibility and accountability, implying an obligation to explain or justify actions. While Ludwig AI confirms its validity, its frequency is relatively rare, suggesting that simpler synonyms might be more common in everyday usage. The phrase appears in news, scientific articles, and encyclopedias, indicating a neutral to formal register. When writing, consider the context and the desired level of formality when choosing between "answerable for this" and alternatives like "responsible for this" or "accountable for this".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Responsible for this

Replaces "answerable" with a more common synonym, "responsible".

Accountable for this

Substitutes "answerable" with "accountable", another synonym emphasizing obligation.

Held responsible for this

Emphasizes the act of assigning responsibility by an external party.

Held accountable for this

Similar to the above, but uses "accountable" instead of "responsible".

Liable for this

Focuses on legal or financial responsibility.

Will be held responsible for this

Adds a future tense, indicating that responsibility will be assigned later.

Will be held accountable for this

Adds a future tense indicating that accountability will be assigned later.

To blame for this

Assigns fault or culpability.

Take responsibility for this

Implies a voluntary acceptance of responsibility.

Carry the can for this

An idiomatic expression indicating the acceptance of blame or responsibility, often unwillingly.

FAQs

What does "answerable for this" mean?

The phrase "answerable for this" means being responsible and accountable for something, implying that one must be prepared to explain or justify actions or outcomes related to it.

What can I say instead of "answerable for this"?

You can use alternatives like "responsible for this", "accountable for this", or "liable for this" depending on the context.

When should I use "answerable for this" over "responsible for this"?

Use "answerable for this" when you want to emphasize a formal obligation to explain or justify actions to a higher authority. "Responsible for this" is a more general term for having a duty or obligation.

Is it correct to say "held answerable for this"?

Yes, "held answerable for this" is correct. It emphasizes that someone is being made responsible and will be required to explain their actions.