burden of blame

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "burden of blame" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing responsibility or accountability for a negative outcome or situation. Example: "In the aftermath of the scandal, the CEO felt the heavy burden of blame resting on his shoulders."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

"I accept my burden of blame.

The New York Times

Secretary Paige's statement puts the burden of blame for atrocious judgment on others.

The New York Times

Look at them in tandem with consumption, and then we'll see where to place the burden of blame.

The Guardian

For millions of children with anxiety disorders, Jerome Kagan's groundbreaking research has relieved a burden of blame by identifying highly reactive responses as hard-wired and thus nobody's fault.

The New York Times

In 1857 the last of the Mughal emperors had served as a rallying symbol for many mutineers, and in the wake of the mutiny most Britons placed the burden of blame for its inception on the Muslim community.

Britannica

For example, where are the policy proposals for: Admittedly, President Obama and Administrator McCarthy should not bear the full burden of blame when much of what needs fixing requires amendment of four-decade old laws that were not written with the 21st century in mind.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

Adverse occurrences are unwanted but common, often carrying burdens of blame, guilt, or fear of sanctions [ 57, 58].

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

But many would agree with Mark Damazer, a former BBC deputy director of news and now master of St Peter's College, Oxford, that "because most of Savile's fame came from the BBC you'd have to say that the BBC has to bear a very heavy burden of the blame".

The Guardian

As you advance through your career, you'll find that whenever issues develop between you and your boss, the one who will take the burden of the blame will be you.

Science Magazine

Fighters must take the burden of the blame without teammates to share it with, and if a loss is spectacular, it's a serious blemish that remains not only on your record, but in the collective memory.

Vice

It is not surprising to find that women bear a disproportionate burden of the blame for infertility, including in cases of male factor infertility.

Globalization and Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "burden of blame", ensure it's clear who is assigning the blame and to whom it is being assigned. This avoids ambiguity and strengthens the clarity of your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "burden of blame" when the situation involves shared responsibility or mitigating circumstances. It's better to use phrases that reflect nuance, such as "shared responsibility" or "contributing factors" to avoid unfairly assigning blame.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "burden of blame" functions primarily as a noun phrase. It identifies the weight or responsibility associated with being held accountable for a mistake, failure, or wrongdoing. Ludwig shows how it's used to describe the experience of carrying this accountability.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "burden of blame" effectively conveys the weight of responsibility for a negative outcome. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically sound and widely used across various contexts, especially in news and media. It signifies being held accountable and often implies negative consequences. While acceptable in many situations, careful consideration should be given to ensure fair attribution of responsibility, especially when shared or mitigated circumstances exist. Alternatives like "weight of culpability" or "onus of responsibility" offer nuanced options for expressing similar concepts. Remember to clarify who assigns and bears the "burden of blame" for clear communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Weight of culpability

Replaces "blame" with "culpability", emphasizing moral responsibility.

Onus of responsibility

Substitutes "burden" with "onus", highlighting the duty or obligation associated with the blame.

Load of guilt

Replaces "blame" with "guilt", focusing on the feeling of remorse or culpability.

Responsibility for wrongdoing

More explicitly states the nature of the blame as being related to a specific act of wrongdoing.

Accountability for errors

Emphasizes the need to answer for mistakes or failures.

Culpability for the fault

Highlights the responsibility specifically for a fault or error.

The blame game

Refers to the act of assigning blame, often in a shared or disputed manner.

Stigma of fault

Focuses on the negative social perception associated with the blame.

The hot seat

An idiomatic expression referring to the position of being blamed or held accountable.

Scapegoating

Refers to unfairly assigning blame to someone else to avoid responsibility.

FAQs

How can I use "burden of blame" in a sentence?

You can use "burden of blame" to describe the weight of responsibility someone feels for a negative outcome. For example, "After the company's failure, the CEO felt the heavy "burden of blame" resting on their shoulders."

What phrases are similar to "burden of blame"?

Similar phrases include "weight of culpability", "onus of responsibility", or "load of guilt". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "bear the burden of blame"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct and commonly used to say "bear the "burden of blame"". It means to accept or carry the responsibility for something that went wrong.

What is the difference between "burden of blame" and "responsibility"?

"Responsibility" generally refers to a duty or obligation, while "burden of blame" specifically implies accountability and often negative consequences for something that went wrong. "Responsibility" can be neutral, while "burden of blame" always carries a negative connotation.