are only accountable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "are only accountable" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the responsibility or obligation of individuals or groups in a specific context. Example: "In this project, the team members are only accountable for their assigned tasks and deadlines."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

But they are only accountable to their funders, never to the people they serve.

The Guardian

But, under the new policy, in much of the country federal marijuana enforcement will be run by officials who are only accountable to Sessions and Trump, not to the broader public.

The New Yorker

Writers may still demur, reasonably concluding that they are only accountable for, in Henry James' words, their "would-be-delicate and to-be-read-on-its-own-account prose".

The New Yorker

In a system where officials are only accountable to the party and not to the public, it is very hard to see how corruption can be rooted out.

BBC

Private corporations are only accountable to their shareholders and owners while the democratic government is accountable to everyone.

Huffington Post

But in a cottage industry like clowning, where so many participants work with no oversight and are only accountable to the mommies and daddies who hire them, largely from classified ads or Craigslist, it could be nearly impossible.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

"Look, I play golf, aggressively – and at the end of the day I'm only accountable to myself.

The Guardian - Sport

However, MI5 has the leading role in counter-terrorism in Northern Ireland and is only accountable to the government in London.

The Guardian

However, MI5 now has the leading role in counter-terrorism in Northern Ireland and is only accountable to the government in London.

The Guardian

Shifts in age group distributions were only accountable for 2% of the CHF 95 rise in RA payments.

Health Economics Review

Schildkraut said he believes the venture is mutually beneficial, though Sprint is responsible for 65% of the network, while Clearwire is only accountable for the remaining 35%.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "are only accountable", ensure the scope of accountability is clearly defined to avoid ambiguity. Be specific about who or what they are accountable to.

Common error

Avoid using "are only accountable" without specifying the limits of that accountability. It's misleading to suggest someone is 'only accountable' without stating to whom or for what they are responsible.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "are only accountable" functions as a predicative adjective describing the limited scope of responsibility or obligation of a subject. Ludwig confirms its correct usage in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

4%

Academia

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "are only accountable" is grammatically correct and functions as a predicative adjective that specifies the limited scope of responsibility. According to Ludwig, this phrase is best used to clarify the boundaries of duty, and it appears frequently in News & Media, Scientific, and Formal & Business contexts. It is crucial to define the limits of accountability when using this phrase to avoid ambiguity. While alternatives like "are solely responsible" and "answerable only to" exist, choosing the right alternative depends on the specific shade of meaning you wish to convey. Common mistakes include overgeneralizing accountability, making it important to specify who or what one is accountable to.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

are solely responsible

Emphasizes exclusive responsibility, differing by stressing the lack of shared accountability.

are exclusively liable

Highlights legal or financial responsibility, differing by focusing on potential penalties.

are accountable solely

Similar meaning, but with a different word order, changing the emphasis.

are responsible only

Reorders the words while maintaining similar meaning, shifting the focus slightly.

answerable only to

Indicates the party to whom one must give an explanation or justification, changing the structure.

obligated only to

Focuses on a sense of duty or requirement, differing by highlighting the obligation.

liable only to

Specifies a legal or financial obligation, differing in its formal connotation.

responsible exclusively to

Combines exclusivity and responsibility, stressing the specific receiver of the responsibility.

accountable to none but

Highlights independence and self-governance, differing by emphasizing autonomy.

subject to the authority of only

Indicates a restricted scope of control, differing by specifying a formal authority.

FAQs

How can I use "are only accountable" in a sentence?

You can use "are only accountable" to specify the limited scope of someone's responsibility. For instance, "The project managers "are only accountable" for the deliverables within their specific departments".

What can I say instead of "are only accountable"?

Alternatives include "are solely responsible", "are exclusively liable", or "answerable only to" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "are only accountable to" or "are accountable only to"?

Both "are only accountable to" and "are accountable only to" are grammatically correct, but the latter emphasizes the restriction of accountability to a specific entity.

What is the difference between "are only accountable" and "are not accountable"?

"Are only accountable" implies limited responsibility, whereas "are not accountable" suggests a complete lack of responsibility for something. Using "are only accountable" defines the boundaries of one's duties, while "are not accountable" indicates a total absence of duty.