ascertain responsibility

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "ascertain responsibility" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the process of determining who is accountable for a particular action or outcome. Example: "In order to move forward with the investigation, we need to ascertain responsibility for the incident."

✓ Grammatically correct

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

The costs of the law will be borne by courts, which are an awkward place to ascertain Saudi responsibility for 9/11, and especially the president, who will have to deal with the diplomatic fallout with Saudi Arabia and other nations".

The New York Times

One inquiry focused on the fire itself, while the other sought to ascertain criminal responsibility for the disaster as well as the operation of the illegal factory.

Wikipedia

Future research should attempt to ascertain whose responsibility commissioners and managers perceive it is to ensure that guidelines for best practice are adhered to.

BMC Health Services Research

Visiting a pharmacy can feel shameful or intimidating with a barrage of questions asked to ascertain levels of responsibility, known as the "Gillick" competency.

Independent

Hence it is his/her responsibility to ascertain whether the technical officer responsible for formulating the proposal has addressed all the six criteria in an adequate manner or justified why one or more of these are not considered relevant for the proposal in question.

FAO

The argument that malaria kills but deaths are not likely attributable to AIs under normal malaria control conditions does not reduce the responsibility to ascertain the risks posed by insecticides and delve deeper into how these risks can be mitigated.

Environmental Health Perspectives

Speaking by phone from Washington, a spokeswoman said the agency's responsibility was to ascertain what was transpiring in Venezuela, make an educated prediction on what could happen and then pass the information to the State Department.

The New York Times

Our commitment to do what is possible to ascertain the truth and possible responsibilities remains unchanged.

The Guardian

Both a framework and a model are needed to guide the processes, designate the roles and responsibilities of key actors, ascertain avenues for required resources, training, and collaboration, and to help develop agency and department objectives and outcomes.

Crime Science

This duality imposes unique responsibilities on researchers to ascertain the child's wishes, the weight of these wishes relative to the child's age and maturity, and the lengths to which paediatric participant rights must be safeguarded.

BMC Medical Ethics

"Therefore, the mechanisms that are being used by the Israeli authorities to investigate the incidents are proving inadequate to genuinely ascertain the facts and any ensuing legal responsibility," they write.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "ascertain responsibility", ensure that the context clearly indicates what event or situation the responsibility is being determined for.

Common error

Don't use "ascertain responsibility" without specifying the context or area of responsibility. Be specific about what one is responsible for.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ascertain responsibility" functions as a verbal phrase, indicating the action of determining or establishing accountability. Based on Ludwig AI, it highlights the process of finding out who is responsible for a particular outcome or action.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

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News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

Science

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News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "ascertain responsibility" is grammatically correct and used to express the action of finding out who is accountable for a particular event or decision. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. While less frequent, the phrase is appropriate in formal and professional settings, particularly when discussing legal matters, investigations, or accountability. Alternatives include "determine accountability" and "establish liability". When using this phrase, it's important to provide a clear context, specifying what area the responsibility is being determined for.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

determine accountability

Focuses more directly on the concept of being held accountable.

establish liability

Emphasizes the legal aspect of responsibility.

identify the responsible party

Highlights the act of finding the specific person or group at fault.

pinpoint culpability

More formal and emphasizes blame or fault.

assign accountability

Focuses on the act of giving or allocating responsibility.

attribute responsibility

Highlights the connection between an action and its consequences.

establish fault

Directly addresses the concept of error or wrongdoing.

find who is to blame

A more direct and informal way of expressing the idea.

decide on the responsible party

Emphasizes the decision-making process in identifying responsibility.

investigate responsibility

Focuses on the investigative process to determine accountability.

FAQs

What does "ascertain responsibility" mean?

The phrase "ascertain responsibility" means to find out or determine who is accountable or liable for a particular action, decision, or outcome.

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

You can use "ascertain responsibility" in a sentence like this: "The investigation aims to "determine accountability" and "ascertain responsibility" for the data breach."

What are some alternatives to "ascertain responsibility"?

Some alternatives to "ascertain responsibility" include "determine accountability", "establish liability", and "identify the responsible party".

In what contexts is it appropriate to use "ascertain responsibility"?

It is appropriate to use "ascertain responsibility" in contexts where there is a need to determine who is accountable for something, such as in legal, ethical, or professional situations.