apportion responsibility

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "apportion responsibility" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing the distribution of duties or accountability among individuals or groups. Example: "In the project, it is essential to apportion responsibility among team members to ensure that everyone knows their role."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

An inquiry has been launched into it, and will no doubt apportion responsibility and punish those responsible, but many senior officers believe the army is too deeply deployed on internal security operations to remain constantly alert.

BBC

— a kitchen maintenance organizer — to scrutinize each pot and bowl dirtied, and apportion responsibility for cleaning it.

The New York Times

Widgery 2.54: "To those who seek to apportion responsibility for the events of 30 January the question 'Who fired first?' is vital.

The Guardian

One of the authors of a Marine report that blamed crew error for a jet's slicing the cables of an Italian ski lift testified today that the investigating board was divided over how to apportion responsibility.

The New York Times

Following the HSC recommendations today, the government said work on the development of plans to apportion responsibility and costs of improvements at English roads close to railway lines should be completed by June this year.

The Guardian

So I think if people want to apportion responsibility and blame for all of that it's going to have to be apportioned and shared out all over the place".

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

4. For another sophisticated account of how we should apportion responsibilities, see Richard Miller Millerr 2010).

SEP

One could argue that a true reckoning of the circumstances of Rainey's death requires apportioning responsibility more broadly.

The New Yorker

EPA may "distinguish among classes, types, and sizes" of stationary sources in apportioning responsibility for emissions reductions.

Harvard University

There was widespread disappointment, for example, that the 9/11 commission apportioned responsibility for the catastrophe so widely and did not name and shame an individual.

The Guardian

The Falklands war, which had the united support of the British people, nevertheless led to the Franks inquiry, which looked into its origins and apportioned responsibility.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "apportion responsibility", ensure that the criteria for distributing duties or blame are clearly defined and communicated to all parties involved.

Common error

Avoid using "apportion responsibility" without specifying the basis for the apportionment. Clearly state the factors influencing how responsibilities are divided to prevent misunderstandings and disputes.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "apportion responsibility" functions as a verb phrase followed by a noun, typically used to describe the act of dividing and assigning responsibility or blame. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's a correct and usable expression in English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Science

24%

Formal & Business

16%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

3%

Academia

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "apportion responsibility" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe the distribution of accountability or duties. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and usability. While not exceedingly common, it appears across diverse contexts, including news, science, and formal business settings. To ensure clarity, specifying the criteria for apportionment is crucial. Alternatives like "assign responsibility" and "distribute responsibility" offer similar meanings with subtle differences in emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

assign responsibility

Focuses on the act of giving someone a specific duty.

delegate responsibility

Implies entrusting someone with a task and its associated accountability.

distribute responsibility

Highlights the even allocation of duties among a group.

allocate responsibility

Similar to distribute, but can also imply a more formal assignment.

share responsibility

Emphasizes the collective nature of accountability.

determine accountability

Shifts focus to figuring out who is answerable for what.

establish responsibility

Highlights the act of formally setting up who is responsible.

fix responsibility

Implies definitively placing responsibility on someone or something.

impute responsibility

Means to attribute responsibility, often in a formal or legal context.

ascribe responsibility

Similar to impute, but can also be used in less formal settings.

FAQs

What does "apportion responsibility" mean?

To "apportion responsibility" means to divide and assign responsibility or blame among different people or entities.

How can I use "apportion responsibility" in a sentence?

You can use "apportion responsibility" when you need to describe the distribution of duties or accountability, such as "The inquiry aimed to "apportion responsibility" for the accident among the various departments involved."

What are some alternatives to "apportion responsibility"?

Some alternatives to "apportion responsibility" include "assign responsibility", "delegate responsibility", and "distribute responsibility".

Is it better to "apportion responsibility" or "assign blame"?

While both phrases deal with accountability, "apportion responsibility" is often used in a more neutral or constructive context, focusing on duties. "Assign blame" is more accusatory, focusing on fault for wrongdoing.