bear sole responsibility

USAGE SUMMARY

"bear sole responsibility" is a grammatically correct phrase that is commonly used in written English.
It means to be the only one responsible for something. Example: The CEO will bear sole responsibility for the company's financial losses due to his risky decisions.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

The boom turned to bust and bail-outs.Yet structured finance cannot bear sole responsibility for the crisis.

The Economist

To be fair, Mr Nath did not bear sole responsibility.

The Economist

Of course, Afghanistan does not bear sole responsibility for its plight.

The Guardian - Opinion

To be fair, Bush does not bear sole responsibility for the brutal programme of neoliberal restructuring imposed on the continent.

The Guardian - Opinion

But they are often made to bear sole responsibility for the social forces that act upon them.

The Guardian - Opinion

However she does bear sole responsibility for the contravention, and very significant fault, in failing to take any steps to check whether the continued use of this medicine was permissible," it ruled.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

But he bears sole responsibility as his own conductor and singer.

The Guardian - Books

President Kennedy, his spokesman, Pierre E. Salinger, said, bears sole responsibility and wanted everyone to know it.

The New York Times

Netanyahu said the Islamic organisation bore "sole responsibility for the continuation of the violence".

The Guardian

The president bears sole responsibility for ignoring Colin Powell's noble warnings.

The New York Times

After Hamas formally rejected the ceasefire proposal tabled by Egypt on Monday, Netanyahu said the Islamic organisation bore "sole responsibility for the continuation of the violence".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "bear sole responsibility" when you want to clearly state that one particular person or entity is the only one accountable for something. Avoid ambiguity by explicitly naming who bears this responsibility.

Common error

Avoid using "bear sole responsibility" when multiple parties share accountability. This phrase is meant to indicate singular, not shared, responsibility. If the responsibility is divided, use phrases like "share responsibility" or "bear some responsibility" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "bear sole responsibility" functions as a verbal phrase indicating accountability. It signifies that a specific individual or entity is the only one answerable for a particular action, decision, or outcome. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and provides real-world examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Wiki

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "bear sole responsibility" is a grammatically sound phrase used to emphasize that an individual or entity is exclusively accountable for something. Ludwig AI validates its correctness and offers diverse real-world examples, mainly sourced from News & Media, Science and Wiki. The phrase is best used in formal contexts where clarity in assigning accountability is paramount, as shown by the professional register. When using this phrase, ensure that responsibility is indeed singular and not shared to maintain accuracy. Avoid substituting it with phrases that imply shared accountability when singular responsibility is intended.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be entirely responsible

Focuses on the complete assumption of responsibility.

be singularly responsible

Focuses on individual accountability without sharing the responsibility.

be the only one to blame

Directly points to the singular entity at fault.

be fully accountable

Highlights the aspect of being answerable for actions and outcomes.

be solely liable

Highlights the legal aspect of being the only party responsible.

take full ownership

Emphasizes the act of acknowledging and accepting complete responsibility.

shoulder the blame entirely

Emphasizes the burden of blame being placed on one entity.

answer for everything

Emphasizes comprehensive accountability for all aspects of a situation.

carry the can alone

An idiomatic expression signifying taking responsibility alone, often for something negative.

be the ultimate decision-maker

Highlights the role of being the final authority and therefore accountable.

FAQs

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

You can use "bear sole responsibility" to emphasize that one specific entity is the only one accountable. For example, "The project manager will "bear sole responsibility" for the project's outcome."

What's the difference between "bear sole responsibility" and "share responsibility"?

"Bear sole responsibility" means one entity is entirely accountable, while "share responsibility" implies multiple entities are accountable together. The first is individual, the second is collective.

What can I say instead of "bear sole responsibility"?

You can use alternatives like "be fully accountable", "be entirely responsible", or "take full ownership" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "bear the sole responsibility"?

Yes, "bear the sole responsibility" is grammatically correct and has the same meaning as ""bear sole responsibility"". The use of 'the' is optional but acceptable.