being accountable for

USAGE SUMMARY

"being accountable for" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It means taking responsibility or being answerable for something. You can use this phrase when discussing responsibility, ownership, or consequences in a situation. Example: "As the project manager, I am tasked with being accountable for the team's performance and ensuring that all deadlines are met."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

That's the Ferguson way – taking responsibility, being accountable for your mistakes.

Independent

"The experience of being at school oneself is very different to working in a school and being accountable for students.

Independent

We do this by collaborating with you and by being accountable for the success of your program.

Yale University

I don't see a lot of being accountable for what's happening in our communities to our children".

The Guardian

"Everybody is just being accountable for their job and being unselfish," the Jets rookie cornerback Darrelle Revis said.

The New York Times - Sports

"It's a lot less stressful sitting up in the booth talking about what might have happened rather than being accountable for what did happen," he said.

The New York Times

Lowe added: "I've always loved this time of year: playing in big markets, having every game mean something, being accountable for what you do".

The New York Times

Many people have seen this as a crude attempt to ration resources and to remove ministers from being accountable for local decision making.

The Guardian

Owning it would be like inheriting a tree, being accountable for its existence even after the person who planted it had vanished.

The New Yorker

Sites like the Neuberger, and there aren't too many of them, have the luxury of not being accountable for sales or gate money.

The New York Times

"We welcome his apology because it shows recognition and acceptance that sometimes the system does fail, and it's about standing up and being accountable for that," she said.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "being accountable for" to foster a culture of ownership and responsibility in professional and personal settings.

Common error

Avoid using "being accountable for" without specifying the exact actions, outcomes, or decisions the subject is responsible for. Ambiguity can undermine the purpose of accountability.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "being accountable for" functions as a gerund phrase acting as an adjective, indicating a state of responsibility or obligation. As Ludwig AI states, this means taking responsibility or being answerable for something. It modifies a noun or pronoun, specifying what the subject is responsible for.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

53%

Academia

13%

Science

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

8%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "being accountable for" is a widely used and grammatically sound phrase that signifies taking responsibility or being answerable for something. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's suitable for discussing responsibility, ownership, or consequences. This phrase is versatile, appearing in various contexts such as news, academia, and business. To ensure clarity, always specify what the subject is responsible for. By understanding its usage and nuances, writers can effectively convey responsibility and obligation in their communications.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

taking responsibility for

Emphasizes the act of assuming responsibility.

being responsible for

Highlights the state of being the cause or source of something.

being held responsible for

Focuses on the act of assigning responsibility by an external entity.

answering for

Focuses on the need to justify or explain one's actions.

being liable for

Implies legal or financial responsibility.

taking ownership of

Emphasizes a sense of personal control and responsibility.

being chargeable with

Suggests a formal accusation or blame.

being in charge of

Focuses on the aspect of control and management.

owing an explanation for

Highlights the obligation to provide an explanation.

bearing the burden of

Highlights the weight or difficulty of responsibility.

FAQs

How can I use "being accountable for" in a sentence?

You can use "being accountable for" to indicate responsibility for specific actions or outcomes. For example, "The project manager is "being accountable for" the project's success".

What is a good alternative to "being accountable for"?

Alternatives include "taking responsibility for", "being responsible for", or "being held responsible for", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "accountable to" or "accountable for"?

"Accountable to" indicates who someone reports to, while "accountable for" specifies what they are responsible for. For example, "The employee is accountable to the manager" versus "The employee is "being accountable for" the results".

What does it mean to hold someone accountable?

To hold someone accountable means ensuring they take responsibility for their actions and outcomes, and that they face consequences if expectations are not met. It's related to "taking ownership" of responsibilities.