being held responsible

USAGE SUMMARY

"being held responsible" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is often used to describe someone who is being held accountable for their actions or decisions. For example, "The police officer was being held responsible for the mistake he made in the investigation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

But they, too, worry that individuals will not take responsibility for harm that their group is being held responsible for as well.

SEP

But these companies are not being held responsible.

The Guardian - Tech

There's a blacklash to white people being held responsible or as they would call it 'demonised'demonised

The Guardian

Today, he is being held responsible for it by more and more people".

The New York Times

(A prison official said, "Offender Carter is being held responsible for his actions").

The New Yorker

I am glad that he is being held responsible for his actions.

The Guardian

We feel we're being held responsible for the uprising of 2011".

The Guardian

But now the established pornography business is in decline — and the Internet is being held responsible.

The New York Times - Tech

"I'm a former marine, and I truly appreciate being held responsible and accountable," he said.

The New York Times

Gone, too was the idea of being held responsible for your actions (short of outright fraud).

The New York Times

Owen Paterson, the current secretary of state, is being held responsible for the problem.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Choose synonyms carefully. While phrases like "being blamed" might seem interchangeable, they carry different connotations. "Being held responsible" implies a more formal or official process of accountability than simply "being blamed".

Common error

Avoid using "being held responsible" when a simpler phrase like "is responsible" suffices. Overusing passive voice can make your writing sound convoluted. For example, instead of "The company is being held responsible for the spill", consider "The company is responsible for the spill".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "being held responsible" functions as a passive verb phrase, indicating that someone is the recipient of the action of being made accountable. Ludwig provides many examples demonstrating this usage across diverse contexts. This use reflects the process of assigning blame or accountability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

74%

Science

18%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "being held responsible" is a common and grammatically correct passive verb phrase used to denote the process of assigning accountability for an action or outcome. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and wide applicability. It is frequently found in news, science, and formal contexts. While synonyms exist, such as "being deemed accountable" or "being blamed", the choice depends on the specific nuance you wish to convey. Remember to use this phrase when you want to emphasize the ongoing process of assigning or enforcing accountability, rather than a simple statement of responsibility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

being deemed accountable

Emphasizes the judgment or assessment aspect of responsibility.

being considered liable

Focuses on the legal or financial aspects of responsibility.

being blamed

Highlights the assignment of fault or culpability.

being found culpable

Stresses the aspect of guilt or blameworthiness.

facing the consequences

Focuses on the results of actions and the need to address them.

answering for

Implies an obligation to explain or justify actions.

taking the rap

An informal expression for accepting blame or punishment.

being penalized

Focuses on the imposition of penalties for wrongdoing.

being brought to justice

Emphasizes the legal process and pursuit of accountability.

bearing the burden of responsibility

Highlights the weight and impact of being responsible.

FAQs

How can I use "being held responsible" in a sentence?

The phrase "being held responsible" indicates that someone is currently in the process of being made accountable for their actions or decisions. For instance, "The manager is "being held responsible" for the team's poor performance this quarter".

What are some alternatives to "being held responsible"?

You can use alternatives like "being deemed accountable", "being considered liable", or "being blamed" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "is responsible" or "being held responsible"?

The best choice depends on the context. "Is responsible" is a more direct statement of accountability. "Being held responsible" implies an ongoing process of assigning or enforcing accountability. For example, "The CEO is responsible for the company's strategy" versus "The CEO is "being held responsible" for the recent financial losses".

What does it mean to say someone is "being held responsible"?

Saying someone is "being held responsible" means that they are in the process of facing consequences, answering for their actions, or having accountability enforced upon them. It signifies that their responsibility is actively being addressed.