assign fault

USAGE SUMMARY

"assign fault" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It means to assign or place responsibility or blame for something on someone or something. Example: In the court case, the judge assigned fault to the company for the injuries sustained by the worker due to their negligence.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

We see also a glimpse of Brown's tendency to instantly assign fault for a setback to someone else.

The Guardian - Opinion

Although not intended to assign fault, the commission's findings made it clear that the Pentagon needed to do more to protect American forces overseas, particularly those traveling alone from one spot to another, as the Cole was.

The New York Times

The trial is trying to determine the causes of the explosion, and to assign fault to the companies involved.

BBC

The Pratt & Whitney engineers declined to assign fault to either party for their dilemma.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

A bigger concern to me is that people might interpret these findings as assigning fault to people who get cancer.

The New York Times

The fear is that evidence could be lost, hindering the parties from assigning fault and arriving at the cash compensation figure, Mr.Mariankiah explained.

The New York Times

Assigning fault is another issue, but nothing has gotten done in the last 4 years and no evidence exists to believe that from 2012 onwards anything is going to get done.

University of California, Berkeley

(Noticing an open window in a nearby government office building, some in the Bakersfield crowd shouted, "Shut that window! You're wasting my air-conditioning!") Although Bakersfield is in one of the most conservative districts in California, the Tea Party speakers assigned fault to Republicans as well as to Democrats.

The New Yorker

The lawyer for a man who was rescued from the rubble after the collapse said the Rapetti verdict actually might help his civil case, which assigns fault to numerous defendants including the city, the building's owner, the general contractor on the project and Mr. Rapetti's company.

The New York Times

Investigation indicated "potential material failure," the report says, but the manufacture assigned fault to its installation.

Los Angeles Times

Both parties were assigned fault in the matter, Pike was required to make a concession of his faults, and the church was prompted to return him to communion.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "assign fault", be specific about the reasons and evidence supporting the assignment to ensure clarity and fairness.

Common error

Avoid making vague statements when assigning fault. Instead of saying "The company is at fault", specify which department or individual actions contributed to the problem.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "assign fault" functions as a verb phrase where 'assign' acts as a transitive verb requiring a direct object (fault). It indicates the action of attributing blame or responsibility to a specific entity.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "assign fault" is a grammatically sound verb phrase used to attribute blame or responsibility for an error or wrongdoing. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and common usage. While it can appear in various contexts, it's most frequently observed in news and media, as well as scientific publications. When using this phrase, clarity and specificity are key to avoiding misinterpretations. Alternatives such as "ascribe fault" or "allocate blame" can be used depending on the desired nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Ascribe fault

More formal and neutral way of saying "assign fault".

Attribute culpability

Emphasizes the degree of blameworthiness or guilt.

Allocate blame

Suggests distributing blame among multiple parties.

Pin the blame on

More informal and suggests assigning blame, often in a less formal context.

Fix responsibility upon

More formal and emphasizes establishing who is accountable.

Hold accountable

Focuses on making someone answerable for their actions or omissions.

Determine liability

Legal context, referring to establishing legal responsibility.

Impute responsibility

Suggests attributing responsibility, sometimes unfairly.

Point the finger at

Informal, suggesting direct accusation.

Lay the blame at someone's door

Idiomatic, indicating a clear assignment of blame.

FAQs

What does "assign fault" mean?

The phrase "assign fault" means to attribute blame or responsibility to someone or something for a mistake, error, or wrongdoing.

How can I use "assign fault" in a sentence?

You can use "assign fault" in a sentence like: "The investigation aimed to "attribute culpability" for the accident to the responsible party."

What are some alternatives to "assign fault"?

Alternatives to "assign fault" include "ascribe fault", "allocate blame", or "determine liability", depending on the context.

Is it better to "assign fault" or "assign responsibility"?

While both phrases involve attribution, "assign fault" carries a more negative connotation of blame, whereas "assign responsibility" is more neutral and focuses on accountability. The best choice depends on the specific context and desired tone.