bear full responsibility

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "bear full responsibility" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase when talking about someone accepting responsibility for something, either willingly or reluctantly. For example, "The CEO had to bear full responsibility for the staff layoffs at the company."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

38 human-written examples

He added that deeper cuts would be "a tragedy for which Republicans will bear full responsibility".

The New York Times

I emphasize that I bear full responsibility for everything that I did, signed or co-signed.

Yale University

He must accordingly bear full responsibility for any perjury he may have committed before the panel.

Harvard University

"The American people must know that they bear full responsibility," he declared.

The New York Times

"Syria and Russia bear full responsibility for these atrocities," he wrote on Twitter.

The New York Times

From 2015 onwards, a sovereign Afghanistan will bear full responsibility for its security, which, above all, is an Afghan responsibility.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

22 human-written examples

"Morsi bears full responsibility for what is happening.

The Guardian

Nato's secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg, said Assad "bears full responsibility" for the US missile strikes.

The Guardian

Instead, it is underlining the difficulties of running Washington now that their party bears full responsibility.

The New York Times

The Kremlin may not have initiated the smear campaign against Zvyagintsev, but it bears full responsibility for emboldening his attackers.

The New Yorker

He did little to disguise his concern, muttering that the United States bore full responsibility for "setting these chaps loose".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "bear full responsibility" when you want to assign complete accountability, emphasizing that no one else shares the burden.

Common error

Avoid using "bear full responsibility" when the accountability is shared or mitigated by external factors. Ensure the subject genuinely has the capacity and authority to influence the outcome.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "bear full responsibility" functions as a predicative complement, assigning a state of accountability to a subject. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, and examples show it commonly attributes accountability in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

25%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

10%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "bear full responsibility" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to assign complete accountability. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, its usage spans various contexts, including news, academia, and formal business settings. While alternatives like ""assume full responsibility"" and ""shoulder full responsibility"" exist, the choice depends on the specific nuance desired. When employing this phrase, clearly define the scope of responsibility to avoid ambiguity and ensure it aligns with the subject's actual capacity to influence the outcome.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

shoulder full responsibility

This alternative emphasizes taking on the burden or weight of responsibility.

assume full responsibility

This suggests a more proactive and voluntary acceptance of accountability.

take full responsibility

This is a direct and common way to express accepting accountability.

accept full responsibility

Highlights the act of willingly acknowledging and taking on the duty.

undertake full responsibility

Implies starting or committing to a responsibility.

be held fully accountable

Shifts the focus to external judgment and expectation of accountability.

be entirely liable

A legal term indicating complete legal responsibility for something.

answer for everything

A more general term indicating responsibility for all aspects of a situation.

own the consequences

Focuses on accepting the results of one's actions.

face the music

An idiomatic expression for accepting unpleasant consequences.

FAQs

What does it mean to "bear full responsibility"?

To "bear full responsibility" means to accept complete accountability for something, implying that you are the primary person or entity to blame or credit.

How can I use "bear full responsibility" in a sentence?

You can use "bear full responsibility" when assigning or accepting accountability for actions or outcomes. For example: "The project manager must "assume full responsibility" for the project's failure."

What are some alternatives to saying "bear full responsibility"?

Alternatives include "shoulder full responsibility", "take full responsibility", or "accept full responsibility". The choice depends on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "assume full responsibility" or "bear full responsibility"?

Both phrases are correct, but "assume full responsibility" implies a voluntary acceptance of accountability, while "bear full responsibility" can suggest a more imposed or inherent accountability. Consider the context to choose the most appropriate phrase.