avoiding responsibility

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "avoiding responsibility" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It means not taking responsibility for something or trying to escape accountability. You can use it in a variety of situations, such as when describing someone's actions or behavior: - He always tries to avoid responsibility and blames others for his mistakes. - The company is facing a lot of legal trouble for their history of avoiding responsibility for environmental damage. - I'm tired of my roommate constantly avoiding responsibility for their share of the rent. You can also use it to talk about a general trend or attitude: - There is a widespread culture of avoiding responsibility in today's society. - The government's lack of action shows a clear pattern of avoiding responsibility for addressing pressing social issues. Here is an example sentence using the phrase: - The CEO's tactic of constantly avoiding responsibility for the company's failures has damaged the trust of both employees and investors.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

54 human-written examples

The coding introduced three subthemes: taking responsibility, sharing responsibility and avoiding responsibility (see Table  2) that were subsumed under the main theme: Responsibility in professional roles.

BMC Medical Education

Or sometimes going bankrupt and avoiding responsibility.

The Guardian

This is not avoiding responsibility; it is stating a fact.

The New York Times

I'm not suggesting that gigantic books are useful only as an excuse for avoiding responsibility.

The New York Times - Books

Some local officials said the assertion of racism was used as an excuse for avoiding responsibility.

The New York Times

Some Democrats, however, accuse Mr. Pataki of avoiding responsibility on the power issue.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

6 human-written examples

Exxon's response was to embark on a campaign to avoid responsibility that would last decades.

Huffington Post

Management actively tries to avoid responsibility.

The Guardian - Opinion

But the politicians also avoid responsibility.

The New York Times

Fresco said Pistorius tried to avoid responsibility.

The Guardian

Although they try, political leaders cannot avoid responsibility.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "avoiding responsibility" when you want to emphasize the act of evading or escaping accountability for one's actions or obligations. It's especially useful when highlighting a pattern of behavior or a deliberate strategy.

Common error

Don't use "avoiding responsibility" when someone is legitimately delegating tasks to others. Delegation is about sharing workload efficiently, not escaping accountability. Ensure the person delegating remains accountable for the outcome, even if others perform the tasks.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "avoiding responsibility" functions as a gerund phrase, acting as a noun. It describes the act of evading accountability. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and widespread use, as shown in various examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

18%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "avoiding responsibility" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe the act of evading accountability. Ludwig AI confirms this, offering numerous examples from diverse sources. While versatile, it's important to use it accurately, distinguishing it from legitimate delegation. Alternatives like "shirking responsibility" or "passing the buck" can offer nuanced shades of meaning. Predominantly found in News & Media, the phrase maintains a neutral tone suitable for varied contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

shirking responsibility

Focuses on neglecting or failing to fulfill one's duties or obligations.

evading accountability

Highlights the act of escaping blame or consequences for one's actions.

ducking obligations

Implies a deliberate attempt to dodge or sidestep commitments.

passing the buck

Refers to shifting responsibility to someone else.

circumventing duties

Suggests finding a way around or avoiding assigned tasks.

disclaiming ownership

Emphasizes the denial of responsibility for something.

abdicating control

Highlights relinquishing control and therefore responsibility.

side-stepping commitment

Indicates a maneuver to avoid being tied to a specific responsibility.

neglecting duties

Focuses on ignoring or failing to attend to required tasks.

renouncing liability

Highlights formally giving up or rejecting legal or moral responsibility.

FAQs

How can I use "avoiding responsibility" in a sentence?

You can use "avoiding responsibility" to describe someone's behavior, for example: "The manager was accused of constantly "avoiding responsibility" for project failures".

What are some alternatives to "avoiding responsibility"?

Alternatives include "shirking responsibility", "evading accountability", or "passing the buck". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

What's the difference between "avoiding responsibility" and "delegating responsibility"?

"Avoiding responsibility" implies a deliberate attempt to escape accountability, while delegating responsibility involves assigning tasks to others while remaining accountable for the overall outcome.

Is "avoiding responsibility" a formal or informal expression?

"Avoiding responsibility" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. Its appropriateness depends more on the surrounding vocabulary and the overall tone of the writing.