are answerable for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "are answerable for" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing accountability or responsibility for actions or decisions. Example: "As the project manager, you are answerable for the success of the project and the performance of your team."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Given their importance to users, it is crucial that privately run services are answerable for their actions.

The Guardian - Opinion

It turns out such errors are answerable for a series of disasters and mishaps in recent years, destroying rockets, making space probes go missing, and sending missiles off-target.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

The question of what is the optimal executive leadership structure is one the board must answer and be answerable for (though many of the following examples took place before the boardroom had the significance it has today); a director could not find a better starting place from which to view the issue than by looking at the following examples of tandem business success.

Forbes

For instance, a just system of criminal law must convict and punish only those who are responsible, in the sense of being answerable for their crimes: only those who have the capacities necessary to answer for their actions, who are bound by this criminal law, and who are answerable to the political community whose law it is and whose courts call them to answer.

SEP

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

The Guardian

Brad is answerable for that, and he knows it.

The Guardian - Sport

Directors and senior executives must be answerable for what goes on in their organizations.

The New York Times

Politicians have to be answerable for failure in ways that autocrats are not.

The Guardian - Opinion

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

The Guardian - Opinion

During one exchange, as she argued Westminster was answerable for Northern Ireland, Mr FitzGerald retorted that "for 50 years they had not regarded themselves as being answerable".

Independent

Some investors say that as chairman of the company and former chief executive of AOL, he is answerable for AOL's accounting problems and sagging performance.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "are answerable for" when you want to emphasize the obligation to explain or justify actions to a specific authority or group.

Common error

Avoid using "are answerable for" interchangeably with "are responsible for" in all contexts. "Answerable" implies a specific audience to whom one must provide explanations, while "responsible" can be more general.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "are answerable for" is to assign responsibility and accountability. It indicates that someone is obliged to explain or justify their actions or decisions to a specific authority. As Ludwig AI suggests, it relates to accountability.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Encyclopedias

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "are answerable for" is grammatically correct and denotes the obligation to explain actions to a specific authority. Ludwig AI confirms its usability. Though relatively rare, it appears primarily in news, scientific, and encyclopedic contexts. It is advisable to use "are answerable for" when clarifying accountability to a specific group, distinguishing it from the more general "are responsible for". Consider using alternatives like "are accountable for" or "are liable for" to refine your message depending on the specific requirements of the situation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

are responsible for

Emphasizes a general sense of duty or obligation.

are accountable for

Highlights the need to justify actions and decisions.

are liable for

Indicates legal or financial responsibility.

are held responsible for

Stresses the act of assigning responsibility.

are to blame for

Focuses on assigning fault or culpability.

bear the responsibility for

Highlights the act of carrying the burden of responsibility.

are duty-bound to

Emphasizes a moral or ethical obligation.

are under an obligation to

Highlights a formal or legal obligation.

are subject to

Indicates being controlled or affected by something.

are in charge of

Highlights the role of overseeing or managing something.

FAQs

How can I use "are answerable for" in a sentence?

You can use "are answerable for" to indicate that someone must justify their actions to a higher authority. For example, "The project managers "are answerable for" the performance of their teams".

What's the difference between "are answerable for" and "are responsible for"?

"Are responsible for" indicates a general obligation or duty, whereas "are answerable for" suggests an obligation to explain actions or decisions to someone. They are very similar but the scope of "are responsible for" is a bit wider.

Which is more formal, "are responsible for" or "are answerable for"?

"Are answerable for" is slightly more formal than "are responsible for", as it implies a structured system of accountability.

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

Alternatives to "are answerable for" include "are accountable for", "are liable for", or "are held responsible for".