be held liable for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be held liable for" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in legal or formal contexts to indicate responsibility for a particular action or outcome. Example: "The company may be held liable for any damages caused by its products."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"You shouldn't be held liable for what somebody else said.

The New York Times

It should not be held liable for its own misfortune".

The New York Times

A blogger can be held liable for any false claims.

The Guardian - Opinion

"I don't think a person should be held liable for his luck".

The New Yorker

Regulators have now clarified that general-interest app stores would not be held liable for that.

The New York Times - Tech

Wilpon and Katz should not be held liable for Madoff's shenanigans, they said.

The New York Times - Sports

The Defense Department was worried that Americans might be held liable for the deaths of innocents.

The New York Times

He is the only one the courts had said could be held liable for the deaths.

The New York Times

If they don't, they must be held liable for failing to prevent terrorist propaganda from spreading.

The Guardian - Opinion

Joint employers can be held liable for wage and hour violations.

The New York Times

A government that permits this should be held liable for neglect.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Be aware that the liability often implies a legal or formal responsibility, so ensure your tone is appropriate.

Common error

Avoid using "be held liable for" when the responsibility is moral or ethical rather than legal. Instead, use phrases like "be held accountable" or "be held responsible" for less formal situations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be held liable for" functions as a predicate in a sentence, indicating the state of being legally responsible or obligated for something. Ludwig provides numerous examples across various domains where this phrase is employed to assign legal culpability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

71%

Academia

17%

Science

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "be held liable for" signifies a legal obligation or responsibility for specific actions or outcomes. As Ludwig AI confirms, its use is grammatically correct and frequent across diverse domains. The phrase appears most commonly in "News & Media" and academia contexts. When using this phrase, it's crucial to specify what the liability entails and ensure the context aligns with its formal and legal tone. Alternatives such as "be responsible for" or "be accountable for" may be suitable in less formal settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Be legally responsible for

Specifically denotes legal accountability.

Be responsible for

Emphasizes a general sense of duty or obligation.

Be accountable for

Highlights the expectation of having to justify actions or outcomes.

Face the consequences for

Focuses on the negative repercussions of an action.

Bear the responsibility for

Suggests a heavy burden of obligation.

Answer for

Implies a need to explain or defend one's actions.

Be subject to liability for

A more formal and legalistic way of expressing responsibility.

Incur liability for

Highlights the action of becoming legally responsible

Carry the can for

An informal way of saying to take the blame.

Be to blame for

Indicates direct culpability or fault.

FAQs

What does "be held liable for" mean?

To "be held liable for" means to be legally responsible for something, such as damages, debts, or actions. It implies a legal obligation to compensate for harm or loss.

What can I say instead of "be held liable for"?

You can use alternatives like "be responsible for", "be accountable for", or "face the consequences for" depending on the context.

In what situations is someone typically "held liable for" something?

Someone is typically "held liable for" something in legal contexts, such as negligence, breach of contract, or violation of laws. The specific circumstances determine the extent and nature of the liability.

What is the difference between "be held liable for" and "be held responsible for"?

"Be held liable for" generally refers to legal responsibility, while "be held responsible for" can encompass moral, ethical, or practical obligations in addition to legal ones.