attribute responsibility

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "attribute responsibility" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the assignment of blame or accountability for a particular action or outcome. Example: "In the meeting, we need to attribute responsibility for the project's delays to ensure accountability moving forward."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

41 human-written examples

The group's findings played a key role in the decision by the National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling to attribute responsibility for the spill to BP rather than to a faulty response by the government.

Encyclopedia Britannica

But regardless of what they find, the OPCW does not have powers to attribute responsibility.

The Guardian

His aim, he said, was "to find and attribute responsibility wherever it belongs".

The New York Times

And when you're dealing with private companies it's much more difficult to attribute responsibility for potential damage.

The Guardian

The United States and its allies wanted an investigation that would attribute responsibility for the attacks; Russia promised to use its veto to prevent this.

The Times

The purpose of this study was to examine factors that influence how child welfare workers attribute responsibility for child maltreatment and child safety in cases involving domestic violence.

Child Abuse & Neglect

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

19 human-written examples

Thus, attributing responsibility for the frequency or lack of sex to men continues," she added.

Independent

Morrissey has previously attributed responsibility for the death of the nurse Jacintha Saldanha to the Duchess of Cambridge.

The Guardian - Music

In a video posted by the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a man attributes responsibility to a different battalion.

The New York Times

The cost of doing so will range from $3,000-8,000 3,000-8,000£1,900-5,000£1,900-5,000ting responsibility is difficult and itonneunclear who will foot the butl, sattributingn.

The Guardian

Now, although attributing responsibility for online breaches is an inferential affair, many in the US government and cybersecurity circles see the Bears in their backyards.

The Guardian - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "attribute responsibility", ensure your sentence clearly identifies both the actor assigning the responsibility and the party to whom it is assigned. Avoid ambiguity by specifying the criteria or evidence used to make the attribution.

Common error

Avoid using "attribute responsibility" in a passive or unclear way that doesn't specify who is doing the attributing. Always clarify who is assigning the responsibility to avoid confusion and ensure accountability.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "attribute responsibility" functions as a verb phrase where "attribute" is the verb, indicating the action of assigning or ascribing something (in this case, responsibility) to someone or something. The Ludwig AI confirms this functionality based on various real-world examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Academia

25%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "attribute responsibility" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase employed to assign blame, accountability, or causation. Ludwig's examples reveal that it commonly appears in news, scientific, and academic contexts, reflecting a neutral to formal tone. Common alternatives include "assign responsibility" and "ascribe responsibility". When using "attribute responsibility", clarity is paramount. Ensure that your writing specifies who is assigning responsibility and the criteria for doing so. This level of specificity is what differentiates competent communication from vague statements and supports effective accountability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

assign responsibility

Direct synonym, implies a formal assignment.

ascribe responsibility

Similar to assign, but may imply a less formal or definitive assignment.

place the blame

More direct and potentially accusatory.

hold accountable

Focuses on the consequences and expectations of responsibility.

pinpoint culpability

Highlights the determination of guilt or fault.

lay the responsibility

Suggests placing the burden of responsibility.

fix the responsibility

To definitely establish who is responsible.

determine liability

Formal, often used in legal contexts to establish legal responsibility.

impute responsibility

Suggests responsibility is being assigned based on inference or assumption.

charge with accountability

Emphasizes the obligation to answer for an action or outcome.

FAQs

How to use "attribute responsibility" in a sentence?

You can use "attribute responsibility" to show who is assigning responsibility or blame for something. For example, "The commission sought to attribute responsibility for the accident".

What can I say instead of "attribute responsibility"?

You can use alternatives like "assign responsibility", "ascribe responsibility", or "place the blame" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "attribute responsibility" or "take responsibility"?

"Attribute responsibility" and "take responsibility" have different meanings. "Attribute responsibility" means to assign blame or accountability, while "take responsibility" means to accept blame or accountability.

What's the difference between "attribute responsibility" and "assume responsibility"?

"Attribute responsibility" means to assign accountability to someone else, while "assume responsibility" means to take on the accountability yourself.