burden

USAGE SUMMARY

"burden" is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use it to refer to something, usually an obligation or responsibility, that is difficult to accept, address, or bear. For example, "The burden of paying for college was a financial strain for Lisa and her family."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Do you not have a heavy burden of justification to show authorisation under the constitution?" he asked the US solicitor-general, Donald Verrilli, who was defending the law.

The Guardian

The coalition of disability groups are pushing the Georgia state assembly to change the law to bring it in line with the other 49 states by lowering the burden of proof to "preponderance of the evidence".

The Guardian

She added that when they had begun lobbying Georgia's legislators, they had discovered that many of them were not even aware of the state's uniquely heavy burden of proof.

The Guardian

"These increases are a heavy burden on our constituents," added Phil Gingrey of Georgia, who pressed Sebelius for more detail on how those facing financial hardship will avoid government penalties for failing to sign up.

The Guardian

Clegg was asked if he expected the government would reduce the overall tax burden.

The Guardian

Cruden later revealed that he "made a poor decision regarding the limits of my alcohol intake" and that as a result would forever "carry the burden of shame and disappointment".

The Guardian - Sport

"Not only does this place an unfair emotional burden on women, it also places them at greater risk".

The Guardian

If we want to shift the criminal burden from vulnerable women, both trafficked and local, to men, we have to criminalise the punters.

The Guardian - Opinion

The ratings agency cited fragile and weakening banks as the main factor in its decision, stating: In order to maintain appropriate domestic bank capital levels, the Cypriot government will likely need to provide financial support to the country's banks that could threaten the sustainability of the government's debt burden So, who are the ratings agencies?

The Guardian

There is no suggestion that conventional breeding should be subject to a complex and politicised regulatory process but, correspondingly, there is no reason why GM should have this burden.

The Guardian

The evidence before us strongly suggests that investment in the unglamorous technologies, frameworks and infrastructures that are already known to underwrite citizen participation would result in better outcomes for tens of millions of ordinary Indians – and would shoulder the state with far-less onerous a financial burden – than investment in the high-tech chimeras of centralised control.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "burden", consider the emotional weight and connotations it carries. Choose synonyms like "responsibility" or "onus" for a more neutral tone when appropriate.

Common error

Avoid overuse of the word "burden" in formal or business contexts, as it can sound overly negative. Opt for more neutral alternatives such as "responsibility" or "obligation" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The word "burden" primarily functions as a noun, denoting a heavy load, responsibility, or something oppressive. Ludwig AI confirms its common usage across diverse contexts, from news articles to academic papers. It can also function as a verb, meaning to encumber.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "burden" is a versatile word, commonly used as a noun to express a heavy load, responsibility, or cause of worry. Ludwig AI confirms it is grammatically correct and sees frequent usage across various sources. While its primary contexts are News & Media and Formal & Business, it also appears in Science, indicating a broad applicability. When using "burden", be mindful of its negative connotations and consider neutral alternatives like "responsibility" or "onus" depending on the intended tone. The choice between "burden" and its alternatives greatly influences the reader's perception. Always contextualize it with the emotional weight it carries.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

load

Replaces "burden" with a more general term for something carried or supported.

onus

Substitutes "burden" with a term emphasizing responsibility or duty.

responsibility

Replaces "burden" with a more direct term for accountability.

weight

Uses a physical metaphor to represent the heaviness of a "burden".

strain

Indicates the pressure or stress caused by a "burden".

encumbrance

Replaces "burden" with a formal term for something that impedes or hinders.

impediment

Substitutes "burden" with something that obstructs progress.

liability

Replaces "burden" with a term implying legal or financial responsibility.

obligation

Substitutes "burden" with a formal term for a binding requirement.

cross to bear

Uses an idiomatic expression to describe a difficult or painful "burden".

FAQs

How can I use "burden" in a sentence?

You can use "burden" to describe a heavy load, responsibility, or cause of worry. For example, "The heavy workload became an unbearable "burden"."

What can I say instead of "burden"?

You can use alternatives like "load", "responsibility", or "onus" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "burden" or "burdon"?

"Burden" is the correct spelling. "Burdon" is an archaic spelling and is rarely used in modern English.

What's the difference between "burden" and "responsibility"?

"Burden" often implies a negative or difficult aspect, while "responsibility" is more neutral and simply denotes a duty or task. A "burden" is a weight that is carried, while a "responsibility" is something one is accountable for.