assign

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "assign" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the act of designating a task, responsibility, or role to someone or something. Example: "Please assign the project to the most qualified team member."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Some professors claim they assign more long writing assignments as a result, and students receive careful, prompt feedback.

The Economist

They may agree to the terms of use of the site which explains how their data will be used, and may assign their rights to the news organisation.

The Guardian - Opinion

Anderlecht will have to adapt and perhaps assign even more responsibility to a teenager who is likely to grace this tournament for years to come.

The Guardian - Sport

Chief Justice Roberts could conceivably be a sixth vote to uphold – the chief justice surrenders his power to assign the opinion if he joins with the dissenters, and if Kennedy's vote is lost, he may decide to try to moderate the opinion upholding the statute – but I think it's highly unlikely that he would be a fifth.

The Guardian - Opinion

A Dutch-led investigation's preliminary report in September said MH17 broke up in mid-air as a result of structural damage caused by "a large number of high-energy objects that penetrated the aircraft from outside", but did not assign blame.

The Guardian

Often, she says, whips will deliberately assign MPs to work on committees where they have no expertise, so they pose no threat.

The Guardian

Once in a group, we then unconsicously assign that person good and bad characteristics.

The Guardian

They enable the authors to assign probabilities to their projections.

The Economist

Mr Uribe's plan to assign security tasks to up to 1m civilians could also prove a green light to more paramilitary attacks, his critics fear.Killings by the paramilitaries, and the armed forces' close ties to them, lead critics of American policy in Colombia to call for a halt to aid.

The Economist

Mr Fourtou has begun to assign clear responsibilities to the board: Mr Messier was criticised for keeping the board in the dark about key decisions.Merck, a giant pharmaceutical company, also got tarred with the "dodgy accounting" brush.

The Economist

One approach is to assign a new manager or an independent evaluator to assess a project or business.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When dealing with abstract concepts, use "assign" to attribute qualities or characteristics, ensuring a clear connection between the subject and the attribute.

Common error

Avoid using "assign" without specifying the recipient or purpose, which can lead to confusion. Clearly state who is receiving the assignment and what they are expected to do.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "assign" is as a transitive verb, requiring a direct object. Ludwig examples show it designating tasks, responsibilities, or roles, aligning with Ludwig AI's correctness assessment.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "assign" is a versatile verb, commonly used across various contexts to denote the act of designating, allocating, or attributing something. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and frequently encountered in news, business, and scientific domains. While synonyms like "allocate", "designate", and "delegate" offer nuanced alternatives, "assign" remains a reliable choice. To ensure clarity, always specify both the assigner and the assignee. Overall, mastering the usage of "assign" enhances precision in both formal and informal communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

allocate

Focuses on distributing resources or tasks systematically.

designate

Emphasizes the act of specifying or formally appointing someone or something.

delegate

Highlights the transfer of responsibility or authority to another party.

appoint

Implies a formal selection or assignment to a specific role or position.

allot

Suggests a proportional or measured distribution of something.

attribute

Focuses on assigning a quality, characteristic, or cause to something.

impute

Implies assigning blame or responsibility, often in a negative context.

transfer

Highlights the movement of ownership or rights from one party to another.

ascribe

Similar to attribute but often used in more formal or academic contexts.

charge

Indicates assigning a duty or responsibility to someone.

FAQs

How can I use "assign" in a sentence?

You can use "assign" to indicate the act of giving a task, responsibility, or role to someone or something. For example, "The manager will "assign" the project to the most qualified team member."

What can I say instead of "assign"?

You can use alternatives like "allocate", "designate", or "delegate" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "assign responsibility to someone"?

Yes, it is correct. "Assign" often takes a direct object (the thing being assigned) and a prepositional phrase indicating the recipient. For example, "The company will "assign" responsibility to the new team."

What's the difference between "assign" and "attribute"?

"Assign" generally refers to giving a task or role, while "attribute" refers to assigning a quality or characteristic. For example, "We "assign" tasks to employees" versus "We attribute success to hard work."