bears responsibility

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of a sentence 'bears responsibility' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase when someone has a duty or obligation to take care of something. For example: "The manager of the store bears responsibility for making sure all the shelves are properly restocked."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"The international community bears responsibility for this.

The Guardian

If Israel targets Iran, America bears responsibility".

The New Yorker

Aspen Santa Fe bears responsibility for encouraging him.

The New York Times - Arts

"He bears responsibility until elections on 21 February".

The New York Times

Turkey refused, and bears responsibility for what happened.

The New York Times

"We need to be clear who bears responsibility.

The New York Times

It bears responsibility for reform of the council system.

The Economist

The board of directors bears responsibility for that failure".

The New York Times

Although he has remained aloof, he bears responsibility for the actions of the authorities.

The Economist

Even if one accepts that sabotage contributed to the oil spills, he said, Shell bears responsibility.

The New York Times

"The transgressor in this case was the defendant and he bears responsibility for his criminal acts".

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "bears responsibility" when you want to emphasize the weight or burden of the obligation, not just the fact of it.

Common error

Avoid using "bears responsibility" loosely. Ensure that the person or entity you're assigning responsibility to genuinely has the authority, capacity, and obligation to act. Overstating responsibility can dilute accountability.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "bears responsibility" functions as a predicate in a sentence, assigning accountability or obligation to a subject. It signifies that the subject is answerable for specific actions, decisions, or outcomes. Ludwig's examples show it is used to point out an entity or person that has to deal with some consequences.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

1%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "bears responsibility" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to denote accountability or obligation. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's correctness and offers numerous examples of its usage in reputable sources. Predominantly found in News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business contexts, the phrase carries a neutral tone and is suitable for formal communications. Alternatives like "takes responsibility" or "is accountable" may be used depending on the context and desired level of formality. Remember to use "bears responsibility" to emphasize the weight of the duty or obligation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

takes responsibility

A more direct and common way of expressing accountability.

shoulders responsibility

Implies taking on responsibility, often with a sense of burden.

assumes responsibility

Suggests voluntarily taking on responsibility.

is accountable

Focuses on being answerable for one's actions or decisions.

is liable

Indicates legal or financial responsibility.

is obligated

Emphasizes a legal or moral duty to fulfill a responsibility.

is to blame

Suggests that someone is at fault for something negative.

is duty-bound

Stresses the strong moral imperative to fulfill a responsibility.

is in charge

Highlights the authority and control over a situation or task.

is tasked with

Focuses on the assignment of responsibility for a specific task.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "bears responsibility" to sound less formal?

In less formal contexts, you could use phrases like "is in charge", "is accountable", or "is to blame" depending on the specific meaning you want to convey.

When is it appropriate to use "bears responsibility" instead of "takes responsibility"?

"Bears responsibility" implies a heavier burden or a more formal obligation than "takes responsibility". Use "bears responsibility" when emphasizing the weight of the duty or obligation.

What are some synonyms for "bears responsibility" that highlight legal implications?

If you want to emphasize legal implications, consider using "is liable" or phrases like "is legally responsible".

Is it grammatically correct to say "bear responsibility" instead of "bears responsibility"?

Yes, "bear responsibility" is grammatically correct. The form "bears responsibility" is used with singular subjects (e.g., "He bears responsibility"), while "bear responsibility" is used with plural subjects (e.g., "They bear responsibility").