be held responsible

USAGE SUMMARY

"be held responsible" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express that someone will be held accountable for their actions or be expected to take responsibility for any outcome. For example: "The manager will be held responsible for any mistakes the team makes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They should be held responsible".

The New York Times

"I shouldn't be held responsible".

The New York Times

He should be held responsible".

The New York Times

"Milosevic must be held responsible," Davorin says.

The New York Times - Magazine

"We can't be held responsible," Mr. Moonves said.

The New York Times

Given her state of mind, she couldn't be held responsible.

The New Yorker

And the government must be held responsible for it.

The Guardian - Opinion

But the people who killed, they should be held responsible'".

The Guardian

Yet no one, it seems, can be held responsible.

The Guardian - Opinion

"I can't be held responsible," Bertie liked to say.

The New Yorker

He added: "This governor has to be held responsible.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "be held responsible" when you want to emphasize that someone should be accountable for their actions or the outcome of a situation.

Common error

Avoid using "be held responsible" without clearly defining the scope of responsibility. Vague attributions can lead to confusion and unfair blame.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be held responsible" functions as a passive construction indicating that someone or something is subject to accountability or blame. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and widely used. Ludwig examples illustrate diverse contexts where individuals or entities are expected to answer for their actions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Science

18%

Formal & Business

14%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "be held responsible" is a versatile and grammatically sound phrase used to assign accountability and express expectations. Ludwig AI validates its correct usage in written English. The phrase is most frequently found in news and media, indicating its relevance in public discourse and reporting on accountability. While versatile, it's important to clearly define who is being held responsible and for what, in order to ensure clarity and avoid misattribution. Related phrases like "be held accountable" and "take responsibility" offer nuanced alternatives depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be held accountable

Focuses more on the act of accounting for actions or performance.

be held liable

Emphasizes legal or financial responsibility for something.

take responsibility

Emphasizes the act of accepting accountability.

be considered responsible

Indicates a judgment or opinion that someone is responsible.

bear responsibility

Highlights the act of carrying the burden of responsibility.

answer for

Highlights the need to explain or justify actions.

shoulder the blame

Focuses on accepting blame or criticism.

be to blame

Directly assigns fault to someone or something.

face the consequences

Focuses on experiencing the results of one's actions.

carry the can

Informal way of saying someone has to take responsibility, often unfairly.

FAQs

How can I use "be held responsible" in a sentence?

Use "be held responsible" to indicate that someone is accountable for their actions or decisions. For example, "The CEO will "be held responsible" for the company's financial performance."

What are some alternatives to "be held responsible"?

You can use alternatives such as "be held accountable", "be held liable", or "take responsibility" depending on the specific context.

When should I use "be held responsible" versus "be held accountable"?

"Be held responsible" implies a general obligation to answer for actions or outcomes. "Be held accountable" suggests a more formal process of justifying actions and performance.

What does it mean for someone to "be held responsible"?

To "be held responsible" means that a person or entity is expected to answer for their actions and potentially face consequences if things go wrong. It signifies a level of accountability and obligation.