ascribe responsibility to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "ascribe responsibility to" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the act of attributing blame or accountability to someone or something for a particular action or outcome. Example: "In the report, the committee decided to ascribe responsibility to the management for the project's failure."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Despite the debate, limited research has focused on the impact these interfaces have on how people ascribe responsibility to computing technology.

International Journal of Human-Computer Studies

As just noted, the open-ended character of research and innovation makes it virtually impossible to ascribe responsibility to an unknown event in this specific sense.

Life Sciences, Society and Policy

But we might want to loosen things up here a bit and suggest that collective responsibility is the basis upon which we ascribe responsibility to individual group members for harm that the group itself caused.

SEP

While the above writers, who find collective responsibility to be a compelling moral construct in general, differ in particular respects, they all agree that it would be wrong to ascribe responsibility to dissenters or, in other words, that if one tries to fight harm one should not be held responsible for it.

SEP

"It is therefore wholly inaccurate and unfair to seek to ascribe responsibility to me for matters of concern that occurred long after I left the Agency". But Keith Vaz, the committee's chairman, told the BBC: "We are very surprised that given the background she was put in charge of this organisation [the HMRC].

BBC

This is is sometimes true; however, with an identity as systemically privileged as being Christian is in the U.S. and with the gravity of historical nonsense perpetuated in the name of Jesus, it is not enough to simply ascribe responsibility to individuals in the same way it wouldn't be helpful to focus on individual white people in dismantling systemic racism.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

The OPCW is not able to ascribe responsibility for the attack, but identification of the nerve agent as novichok would strengthen the view that Russian state forces were involved.

The Guardian

Houry said HRW is pushing for a mechanism to ascribe responsibility for the chlorine attacks and impose sanctions on the culprits, a step that has been resisted by Russia, which backs Assad.

The Guardian

Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, who called the report a chilling document that described a war crime, declined at a United Nations news conference on Tuesday to ascribe responsibility for that attack, a position he has consistently held.

The New York Times

See exploring Dilemmas, choices and responses to the Holocaust, which looks at the impulse to assign blame and ascribe responsibility for what happened as a way of making sense of the events and understanding why and how they happened.

The Guardian

A fact-finding mission by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, which is charged with destroying Syria's stockpile of chemical weapons, concluded that chlorine was used in 2014 in Syrian villages, but did not ascribe responsibility.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "ascribe responsibility to", ensure the context clearly indicates the basis for the attribution. Provide specific evidence or reasoning to support the assignment of responsibility.

Common error

Avoid using "ascribe responsibility to" without specifying the exact actions or decisions for which someone is being held accountable. Vague attributions can lead to unfair or inaccurate assessments.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ascribe responsibility to" functions as a verb phrase used to attribute accountability or causation for an action, event, or outcome to a person, group, or entity. Ludwig examples showcase its use in formal reports and academic discussions.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

30%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "ascribe responsibility to" is a grammatically correct and usable expression that serves the purpose of attributing accountability for actions or outcomes. While not extremely common, as noted by Ludwig, it finds usage in various contexts, particularly in scientific, news, and formal business settings. The phrase functions as a verb phrase and maintains a formal tone. When employing "ascribe responsibility to", it's crucial to support the attribution with evidence. Alternatives include "assign responsibility to" and "attribute blame to", allowing for nuanced expression depending on the specific context. Overall, the phrase is a valuable tool for clear and precise communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

assign responsibility to

A more neutral alternative, simply indicating the act of assigning accountability.

attribute blame to

Focuses specifically on assigning blame for a negative outcome.

hold accountable for

Emphasizes the act of making someone answerable for their actions.

impute responsibility to

A more formal and less common way of assigning responsibility.

charge with responsibility

Suggests formally entrusting someone with a duty.

fix responsibility on

Highlights the act of definitively establishing who is responsible.

place the onus on

Highlights the burden or duty of responsibility.

pin the blame on

More colloquial and emphasizes a direct assignment of blame.

lay the blame at the feet of

A more figurative expression, implying direct responsibility.

saddle with responsibility

Implies imposing a possibly unwanted or burdensome responsibility.

FAQs

How do I use "ascribe responsibility to" in a sentence?

Use "ascribe responsibility to" when you want to formally assign accountability for an action or outcome. For example, "The investigation aimed to "ascribe responsibility to" the individuals involved in the data breach".

What are some alternatives to "ascribe responsibility to"?

You can use alternatives like "assign responsibility to", "attribute blame to", or "hold accountable for" depending on the context.

Is it better to use "ascribe responsibility to" or "assign responsibility to"?

"Assign responsibility to" is more neutral and common, while ""ascribe responsibility to"" can sound more formal or imply a more considered judgment.

What's the difference between "ascribe responsibility to" and "blame"?

"Ascribe responsibility to" is a broader term that involves assigning accountability, while "blame" specifically implies fault or culpability. You can "ascribe responsibility to" someone without necessarily blaming them.