but without being responsible

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "but without being responsible" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing actions or decisions taken without assuming accountability for the outcomes. Example: "He made the decision to proceed with the project, but without being responsible for any potential failures."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Jeremy Hunt Dear Mr Hunt You want to carry on doing your job, enjoying the perks and making money, but without being responsible for the consequences of your mistakes.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Pakistan's goal has always been to arrange American talks with the Taliban without being responsible for the outcome.

The New York Times

Tuesday was officially the last day that undergraduate students could withdraw without being responsible for any tuition payment, though several hundred dollars in fees, room and board could still be assessed.

The New York Times

A number of objections can be raised to Zimmerman's view, including (i) that at least large classes of the counterfactuals in virtue of which he thinks people are responsible lack truth value (e.g., Adams 1977, Nelkin 2004, and Zimmerman 2002, 572), and (ii) that he is simply mistaken that one can be responsible without being responsible for anything.

SEP

Second, X may deserve Y without being responsible for Y. Thus a poor saint who stumbles, entirely fortuitously, upon a gold nugget might deserve (in the wider scheme of things) to be enriched by his discovery even though he is not responsible for making it.

SEP

For them democracy is supposed to provide them with the liberty to do what they want, without being responsible for others and without others being responsible for them.

Huffington Post

With an automated copy of email communications, they can be kept aware of the activity of their consultant without being responsible for contacting them (Fig. 2).

Global Health Action

This approach eliminated five pathogens previously implicated without any experimental evidence as being responsible for the Black Death [8].

Plosone

The tragedy of this pattern is clear: It allows the military to tame democracy, without being accountable to voters or being responsible for improving governance.

The New York Times

They are used to being responsible for just themselves without feeling selfish.

The New York Times

"America wants to be Europe's partner, not its patron; but it cannot be responsible from without for weaning Europe off its client status," they wrote, adding that, "An incoherent and ineffective assemblage of European states will be increasingly marginalized".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "but without being responsible" to clearly indicate a separation between an action or involvement and the acceptance of consequences or duties.

Common error

While "but without being responsible" is widely understood, consider using more formal alternatives like "without liability" or "without accountability" in professional or academic writing to maintain a consistent tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "but without being responsible" functions as a conjunctive phrase that introduces a contrast or exception to a preceding statement. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Wiki

8%

Social Media

7%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "but without being responsible" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to express a desire to avoid accountability for actions or decisions. Ludwig confirms its correctness and usability. While versatile across various contexts, it is most prevalent in news, science, and formal business settings. For increased formality, alternatives like "without liability" may be preferable. The phrase carries a neutral tone but can imply an unwillingness to take ownership, depending on context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

without accountability

Focuses directly on the lack of accountability, simplifying the original phrase.

without taking responsibility

Emphasizes the act of not accepting responsibility.

without liability

Highlights the absence of legal or financial obligation.

while avoiding responsibility

Indicates an active effort to evade responsibility.

yet not being accountable

Introduces a contrast, emphasizing the lack of accountability despite a prior action.

but shirking responsibility

Suggests an avoidance of duty or obligation.

without owning the consequences

Focuses on not accepting the results of an action.

without facing repercussions

Highlights the absence of negative outcomes.

though free from obligation

Emphasizes the lack of a binding duty.

while disclaiming responsibility

Formally rejects any association with responsibility.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "but without being responsible" to sound more formal?

Consider using alternatives such as "without liability" or "without accountability". These options are better suited for professional or academic contexts.

What does it mean to do something "but without being responsible"?

It means to engage in an action or decision without accepting the potential consequences or obligations that typically follow. It suggests a detachment from accountability.

Is there a negative connotation to using "but without being responsible"?

Yes, it can sometimes imply an unwillingness to take ownership or be held accountable for one's actions. The connotation depends heavily on the context.

What's the difference between "but without being responsible" and "without taking responsibility"?

While similar, "but without being responsible" emphasizes the separation of action from accountability, whereas "without taking responsibility" highlights the active choice to not accept obligation.