be blamed for

USAGE SUMMARY

"be blamed for" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It is typically used to express the act of holding someone responsible for something negative or undesirable. Example: The company cannot be blamed for the economic downturn, as it was a result of external factors beyond their control.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

You can't be blamed for that.

The New Yorker

They can't be blamed for that.

The Economist

Securities firms cannot be blamed for everything.

The Economist

Indian bureaucracy cannot be blamed for everything.

The New York Times

Mismanagement cannot be blamed for all ills.

The New Yorker

Moyes cannot be blamed for this.

Independent

Voters should not be blamed for this.

University of California, Berkeley

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

4 human-written examples

The economy cannot be blamed for this.

TechCrunch

Such permissiveness can be blamed for a stunning profit shortfall.

Forbes

Donald Trump can hardly be blamed for that one.

Huffington Post

But you are not to be blamed for this.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "be blamed for", ensure that the context clearly indicates who or what is assigning the blame and the specific reason for it.

Common error

Avoid using "be blamed for" without a clear and logical connection between the action and the responsible party. Ensure there's a justified basis for assigning blame to prevent unfair accusations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be blamed for" functions as a passive construction, indicating that the subject is receiving the action of being blamed. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage, as shown in numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

74%

Academia

14%

Wiki

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "be blamed for" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to assign responsibility or fault. Ludwig AI validates its correctness and demonstrates its prevalence across various contexts, particularly in news and academic domains. When employing this phrase, ensure there's a clear and justified basis for attributing blame to avoid misrepresentation. Alternative phrases like "be held accountable for" or "be held responsible for" can provide nuanced ways to convey responsibility depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be held accountable for

Emphasizes the aspect of being responsible and answerable for something.

be held responsible for

Highlights the obligation to answer for an action or outcome.

be liable for

Indicates legal or financial responsibility.

be culpable for

Focuses on the blameworthiness or guilt associated with an action.

be at fault for

Implies that someone's actions directly caused a negative result.

bear the responsibility for

Highlights the act of carrying the burden of responsibility.

answer for

Focuses on the need to explain or justify one's actions.

take the rap for

An informal way of saying someone is accepting blame, often for someone else.

be penalized for

Focuses on the negative consequences or punishment for an action.

be sanctioned for

Implies an official or formal punishment.

FAQs

How can I use "be blamed for" in a sentence?

The phrase "be blamed for" indicates that someone is held responsible for something negative. For example, "The company can't "be blamed for" the economic downturn."

What are some alternatives to "be blamed for"?

You can use alternatives such as "be held responsible for", "be held accountable for", or "be liable for" depending on the context.

What's the difference between "be blamed for" and "be responsible for"?

"Be responsible for" simply means having a duty or obligation. "Be blamed for" implies that someone is being held accountable for something negative that has occurred.

When is it inappropriate to use "be blamed for"?

It's inappropriate to use "be blamed for" when there is no clear evidence linking someone to a negative outcome, or when the responsibility is shared among multiple parties. In such cases, it might be more accurate to say they "share the responsibility".