be left up to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be left up to" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that a decision or responsibility is assigned to someone or something else. Example: "The final decision on the project will be left up to the committee."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

That decision will likely be left up to the brewers.

Cornell University

Instead, penalties would be left up to a judge.

The New York Times

It can't just be left up to HR, either.

Harvard Business Review

And it can't be left up to traffic engineers.

The New York Times - Arts

The rest must be left up to your imagination.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"It can't be left up to individuals to make assessments".

The Guardian

"That will be left up to future discussion".

The New York Times

Frankly, democracy is too important to be left up to the parties and the candidates.

Harvard University

He said he thought the issue should be left up to voters.

The New York Times

Some governments held out, insisting that any reforms should be left up to national parliaments.

The New York Times

But he did say he believed social issues should be left up to the individual.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "be left up to" when you want to emphasize that the decision or responsibility is consciously being given to another party. Be clear about who or what is receiving the responsibility.

Common error

While "be left up to" is generally acceptable, it might be too informal for some highly formal or academic writing. In those cases, consider alternatives like "be delegated to" or "be assigned to".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be left up to" functions as a phrasal verb, specifically in the passive voice. It indicates that a decision, action, or responsibility is assigned or delegated to someone or something else. Ludwig AI confirms the grammatical correctness and usability of this phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Academia

12%

Science

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "be left up to" is a versatile and grammatically sound phrasal verb used to express the delegation of responsibility or decision-making authority. As shown by Ludwig, it is frequently found in news, academic, and professional contexts and carries a neutral tone. While highly versatile, remember to consider that more formal alternatives might exist if you are writing in extremely formal situations. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is grammatically correct and widely applicable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be up to

A shorter and more informal way of saying "be left up to".

be delegated to

Focuses on the act of assigning a task or responsibility to another party.

be assigned to

Highlights the formal assignment of a duty or task.

be entrusted to

Emphasizes the aspect of trust and confidence in the person or entity receiving the responsibility.

be deferred to

Implies a yielding of decision-making power to another, often due to expertise or authority.

be handed over to

Conveys a more direct and physical transfer of responsibility.

be given over to

Similar to handed over, but can also imply a sense of relinquishing control.

be determined by

Focuses on the act of figuring something out or making a decision.

be put in the hands of

Highlights that a decision or matter is placed under someone's control.

rest with

Indicates where the authority or responsibility ultimately lies.

FAQs

How can I use "be left up to" in a sentence?

The phrase "be left up to" indicates that a decision or responsibility is assigned to someone or something else. For example, "The final decision on the project will be left up to the committee".

What's a more formal alternative to "be left up to"?

For formal contexts, you can use alternatives like "be delegated to" or "be assigned to", which convey a similar meaning with a more professional tone.

Is it correct to say "it is left up to me"?

Yes, the phrase "it is left up to me" is grammatically correct and commonly used to indicate that you have the responsibility or authority to make a decision.

What is the difference between "be left up to" and "depend on"?

While both phrases involve a condition or decision being influenced by something else, "be left up to" implies a deliberate delegation of responsibility, while "depend on" simply indicates a state of contingency. For example, "The success of the event will "depend on" the weather".