certainly responsible for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "certainly responsible for" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to emphasize a strong belief or certainty about someone's accountability or role in a situation. Example: "The manager is certainly responsible for the project's success, as she led the team through every phase."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

49 human-written examples

The specific profiles of the RLK superfamily found in tomato and Arabidopsis are certainly responsible for several differences between these plants, such as morphology, reproduction and, importantly, responsiveness to different stress conditions.

BMC Plant Biology

It was almost certainly responsible for razing Haskanita.

The Economist

The Tamil Tigers were certainly responsible for many deaths.

Independent

It was almost certainly responsible for razing Haskanita, which was then under government control.

The Economist

This source is almost certainly responsible for the variability seen in ASCA and ROSAT observations (Ptak & Griffiths 1999).

Harvard University

We're certainly responsible for the damage and carnage in Iraq, and we are obligated to pay for it.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

11 human-written examples

It is certainly responsible, in part, for her extreme directness.

The New Yorker

A diagnosis of GORD made on the basis of the clinical history has specificity of around 65%[ 33, 34], implying that misdiagnosis is not infrequent and this will certainly be responsible for some instances of poor treatment responses, sometimes called 'PPI failure'[ 35, 36].

BMC Gastroenterology

(It gets worse – the United Nations tells us that by 2050 there will be more plastic waste than fish). Online retail is certainly not responsible for all that trash – but it sure doesn't help.

Forbes

In the past two decades, it has certainly been responsible for many more deaths.

The New York Times

Third, however, refugees are most certainly not responsible for a general criminal-justice climate that struggles to treat sexual crime with the seriousness and urgency it warrants.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "certainly responsible for" when you want to express a strong degree of confidence that someone or something is the cause or is accountable for a particular outcome. Ensure that the context supports this level of certainty.

Common error

Avoid using "certainly responsible for" when the evidence is circumstantial or inconclusive. Overstating responsibility can undermine your credibility. Instead, opt for more qualified phrases like "potentially responsible" or "may have contributed".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "certainly responsible for" functions as an attributional phrase, strongly asserting causation or accountability. Ludwig examples demonstrate its use in attributing specific outcomes or actions to particular entities with a high degree of confidence.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

30%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "certainly responsible for" is a versatile attributional phrase used to strongly assert causation or accountability. According to Ludwig, it's grammatically correct and very common across diverse contexts, including News & Media and Science. While it effectively conveys certainty, it's crucial to avoid overstating responsibility without sufficient evidence. Alternatives like "undoubtedly liable for" or "definitely accountable for" can provide similar emphasis. Use this phrase judiciously to maintain credibility and clarity in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

undoubtedly liable for

Replaces "certainly" with "undoubtedly" and "responsible" with "liable", both strengthening the assertion of accountability.

definitely accountable for

Substitutes "certainly" with "definitely" and "responsible" with "accountable", emphasizing obligation.

without a doubt accountable for

Adds emphasis by explicitly stating there is no uncertainty about the accountability.

assuredly the cause of

Replaces "responsible" with "the cause", focusing on direct causation with a strong sense of certainty.

positively at fault for

Clearly assigns blame, indicating a strong conviction of fault.

unquestionably to blame for

Emphasizes culpability and removes ambiguity about who bears the responsibility.

decisively the reason for

Highlights the role as the primary explanation for an event or situation.

indisputably the origin of

Focuses on the role as the source or beginning of something, making the point undeniable.

irrefutably the reason behind

Indicates the cause is beyond dispute, using more formal language.

conclusively attributable to

Uses formal language to express that the cause has been definitively proven.

FAQs

How can I use "certainly responsible for" in a sentence?

Use "certainly responsible for" to express a strong conviction that someone or something caused a particular outcome. For example, "The new policy is "certainly responsible for" the increase in productivity."

What are some alternatives to "certainly responsible for"?

Alternatives include phrases like "undoubtedly liable for", "definitely accountable for", or "assuredly the cause of", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

When is it appropriate to use "certainly responsible for"?

It's appropriate when you have strong evidence or a high degree of confidence that someone or something caused a specific result. Avoid using it when the evidence is weak or speculative.

Is there a difference between "certainly responsible for" and "possibly responsible for"?

Yes. "Certainly responsible for" indicates a high degree of confidence and evidence, while "possibly responsible for" suggests uncertainty and speculation. Use "possibly responsible for" when you are not sure about the cause.