assign roles

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "assign roles" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to the act of designating specific responsibilities or positions to individuals within a group or organization. Example: "During the team meeting, the manager will assign roles to each member based on their strengths and expertise."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

39 human-written examples

"We don't assign roles to each other," says John.

The Guardian - Money

Before leaving class, they should assign roles and do an informal run-through of their skits.

The New York Times

You could – and Frere-Jones does, to some extent – assign roles to these three singers.

The Guardian - Music

'It's strange how families unconsciously assign roles to children, but mine was as a homemaker which I bitterly resented.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Anastasia Volochkova, a former Bolshoi ballerina, said his power to assign roles made him the focus of sometimes passionate resentment.

The New York Times

The mouse will help assign roles to novel human genes too because its counterpart genes can be deleted to create strains of "knock-out" mice.

The New York Times - Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

21 human-written examples

They're carrying out their assigned roles.

The New York Times

Mr. Hou's matter-of-fact depiction liberates the city from its assigned roles.

The New York Times

Mr. Harris stayed on the edges of the human ant farm, watching, gathering data, assigning roles.

The New York Times

You will need to draft a constitution and begin assigning roles to the citizens of your new island nation-state.

The New Yorker

Women are assigned roles, spaces and our bodies determined by men: the father, the spouse, the male relatives.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "assign roles", ensure that the responsibilities associated with each role are clearly defined to avoid ambiguity and ensure accountability. For instance, when organizing a project team, explicitly state the duties of each role to enhance team efficiency.

Common error

Avoid assigning overlapping or poorly defined roles. This can lead to confusion, duplicated efforts, and potential conflicts within a team or organization. Clearly delineate the boundaries of each role to ensure smooth operation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "assign roles" functions as a verb phrase. Ludwig indicates it describes the act of designating responsibilities or positions within a group. It typically requires a subject (who is assigning) and an object (the roles being assigned).

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Science

32%

Wiki

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "assign roles" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed verb phrase used to describe the act of designating specific responsibilities within a group or organization. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and widespread applicability. It appears most commonly in News & Media and Scientific contexts. To ensure effective communication, it's crucial to clearly define the responsibilities associated with each assigned role, and avoid overlapping or poorly defined roles. Alternatives like "allocate responsibilities" or "designate tasks" can be used depending on the context. Understanding these nuances enables more precise and effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

allocate responsibilities

Focuses on distributing duties rather than specific roles, implying a broader scope of tasks.

designate tasks

Emphasizes the act of specifying particular jobs or assignments.

delegate duties

Highlights the act of entrusting tasks to others, often implying authority.

allocate positions

Refers to formally assigning individuals to specific roles or posts within a structure.

define responsibilities

Highlights clearly outlining what each person is accountable for.

set duties

Focuses on establishing the tasks and obligations for each individual.

establish functions

Emphasizes creating and assigning specific functions or operations.

determine duties

Focuses on the process of figuring out and assigning tasks.

appoint responsibilities

Implies a formal designation of accountability.

distribute tasks

Focuses on spreading out work among a group.

FAQs

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

You can use "assign roles" to describe the act of designating specific responsibilities within a group. For example, "The project manager will "assign roles" to team members based on their expertise."

What is a good alternative to "assign roles"?

Alternatives include "allocate responsibilities", "designate tasks", or "delegate duties" depending on the context.

Is it better to "assign roles" or "define roles"?

"Assign roles" focuses on the act of giving someone a specific position, while "define roles" emphasizes clarifying what each position entails. You often need to do both for clarity and effectiveness.

What happens if you don't "assign roles" properly?

Failing to "assign roles" clearly can lead to confusion, duplicated effort, lack of accountability, and decreased overall efficiency within a team or organization.