assign responsibility to

USAGE SUMMARY

"assign responsibility to" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to assign a responsibility, obligation, or task to someone. For example: The manager assigned the responsibility of organizing the office party to Jane.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

Assign responsibility to yourself, them and the student (if appropriate).

The Guardian

Designers assign responsibility to human nature; modeling agents speak of market forces.

The New York Times

Care is widely dispersed, so it is difficult to assign responsibility to one doctor.

The New York Times

How do we assign responsibility to a set of texts or to a faith practiced by some 1.4 billion people?

University of California, Berkeley

The state maintains that the Legislature has the prerogative to assign responsibility to provide indigent defense to whichever government entity it chooses.

The New York Times

It is right to assign responsibility to all the content available on the entire Internet, not just the most popular online encyclopedia.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

I will assign responsibilities to Commissioners according to priority areas where the lead is taken each time by groups of Commissioners working together.

The Guardian - Opinion

Both Article I and Article II assign responsibilities to the President that directly relate to the lawmaking process, but neither addresses the issue presented by these cases.

The New York Times

The fax intervention may have been facilitated by enlisting visible internal support from top leadership at the ACRN to promote and assign responsibilities to specific staff for performing fax referrals.

BMC Family Practice

Assigning responsibility to others and to ourselves, and "internalising" social rules promotes, social stability, safety and human flourishing.

The Guardian - Opinion

Such point-of-purchase screening has the added advantage of assigning responsibility to the carriers themselves instead of the government.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "assign responsibility to", clearly define the scope of the responsibility to avoid ambiguity. For example, specify the exact tasks, deadlines, and expected outcomes.

Common error

Avoid assigning responsibility without providing adequate resources or authority. Ensure the person assigned has the necessary tools and decision-making power to fulfill the responsibility effectively.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "assign responsibility to" functions as a verb phrase used to indicate the act of delegating or allocating a specific task, duty, or obligation to someone. Ludwig AI confirms its usability and correctness, showing widespread use across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Academia

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

13%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "assign responsibility to" is a grammatically correct and commonly used verb phrase that signifies the act of delegating duties or tasks. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is versatile and appropriate for various contexts. It serves the purpose of clearly defining accountability and establishing authority. While predominantly found in news, academic and scientific sources, it maintains a neutral register suitable for professional communication. When using "assign responsibility to", clarity and explicitness regarding the scope of responsibility are crucial. Be sure to provide adequate resources to ensure successful task completion.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

delegate accountability to

Replaces "responsibility" with "accountability" focusing on the obligation to answer for outcomes; it uses "delegate" instead of "assign" implying authorization.

entrust duties to

Uses "entrust" emphasizing confidence in the person receiving the duties; "duties" replaces "responsibility" focusing on tasks.

allocate obligations to

Uses "allocate" suggesting a formal distribution; "obligations" replaces "responsibility" highlighting a binding requirement.

designate tasks to

Focuses on specific "tasks" rather than general "responsibility"; "designate" implies a clear and formal appointment.

place the onus on

Uses "onus" to emphasize the burden of proof or duty; changes the sentence structure to highlight who carries the burden.

impute blame to

Shifts the focus to assigning fault or blame rather than general responsibility, implying a negative connotation.

hold accountable

Focuses on the act of keeping someone answerable for their actions, shortening the phrase and changing the structure.

charge with the task of

Emphasizes the formal charging of someone with a specific task, making it more explicit.

make liable for

Focuses on legal or financial responsibility, implying a formal or contractual agreement.

ascribe a duty to

Uses "ascribe" suggesting a more abstract or inherent connection between the person and the duty.

FAQs

How can I use "assign responsibility to" in a sentence?

You can use "assign responsibility to" to indicate that someone is being given a specific duty or task. For example, "The project manager will "assign responsibility to" each team member for specific parts of the project".

What are some alternatives to "assign responsibility to"?

Alternatives include "delegate accountability to", "entrust duties to", or "allocate obligations to", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it better to "assign responsibility to" someone or "give responsibility to" someone?

"Assign responsibility to" is generally considered more formal and precise. "Give responsibility to" is acceptable, but less specific. The choice depends on the context and desired level of formality.

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

"Assign responsibility to" implies a deliberate act of giving someone a duty. "Ascribe responsibility to" suggests attributing responsibility, often after an event has occurred. For instance, you might "assign responsibility to" a team leader before a project, but "ascribe responsibility to" the CEO after a major loss.