chiefly accountable for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "chiefly accountable for" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone or something has primary responsibility for a particular outcome or situation. Example: "The manager is chiefly accountable for the team's performance and overall success."

✓ Grammatically correct

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

For the first time, a Democratic president, Barack Obama, is espousing ideas that have been anathema to teachers' unions — chiefly, encouraging school choice through charter schools and holding teachers accountable for student learning.

The New York Times

"The F.D.I.C. brings this complaint to hold these highly paid senior executives, who were chiefly responsible for WaMu's higher-risk home lending program, accountable for the resulting losses".

The New York Times

WaMu, as the bank was known, is back in the news because the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation sued Mr. Killinger and two other former top officials of the bank last week, seeking to "hold these three highly paid senior executives, who were chiefly responsible for WaMu's higher-risk home-lending program, accountable for the resulting losses".

The New York Times

Questions have arisen not only about the exact meaning of these claims but also about their consistency with widespread beliefs about human beings, chiefly the belief that they usually act freely and responsibly and should be held accountable for their actions.

Encyclopedia Britannica

I am accountable for it.

The New York Times - Sports

"Who is accountable for failure?

The New York Times

Everyone's accountable for each other".

The New York Times - Sports

I am accountable for my performance.

The Economist

Second, make schools accountable for their performance.

The Economist

What is each person accountable for?

The Economist

Hold schools accountable for results.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "chiefly accountable for", ensure the context clearly defines the scope of responsibility. It's best used when someone has the main, but not necessarily sole, accountability.

Common error

Avoid using "chiefly accountable for" when the responsibility is shared equally among multiple parties. In such cases, phrases like "jointly responsible" or "collectively accountable" are more accurate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "chiefly accountable for" functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun or pronoun to specify who or what bears the primary responsibility for a particular outcome. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a correct and usable expression.

Expression frequency: Missing

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Less common in

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "chiefly accountable for" is a grammatically sound way to indicate primary responsibility, as Ludwig AI confirms. While versatile, it is crucial to use it in contexts where accountability is not entirely exclusive. Alternative phrases like "primarily responsible for" or "mainly liable for" can be used to express similar meanings, depending on the nuance you want to convey. When assigning accountability, precision and clarity are key to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

primarily responsible for

Focuses on the aspect of responsibility rather than accountability, making it slightly less formal.

mainly liable for

Emphasizes legal or financial responsibility, which is a more specific type of accountability.

largely responsible for

Similar in meaning, but with a slightly broader scope, suggesting a significant but not necessarily exclusive role.

principally in charge of

Highlights the role of managing and overseeing, rather than just bearing responsibility.

mostly answerable for

Stresses the obligation to explain or justify actions or outcomes.

the main person responsible for

A more descriptive and less formal way to express the primary role in accountability.

the key individual accountable for

Highlights the individual's importance in bearing the accountability.

first and foremost responsible for

Adds emphasis on the order of responsibility, indicating top priority.

fundamentally responsible for

Emphasizes the underlying or foundational level of responsibility.

the leading figure accountable for

Suggests a prominent role and visibility in being accountable.

FAQs

What does "chiefly accountable for" mean?

It means being the main person or entity responsible for something, though not necessarily the only one. It implies that you bear the primary burden of responsibility for the outcome.

What can I say instead of "chiefly accountable for"?

You can use alternatives like "primarily responsible for", "mainly liable for", or "largely responsible for" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say someone is "chiefly accountable for" a team's failure?

Yes, if that person has the main oversight and decision-making power. However, if the failure is due to multiple factors beyond their control, it might be more accurate to say they are "partly responsible for" the failure.

How does "chiefly accountable for" differ from "solely accountable for"?

"Chiefly accountable for" implies the responsibility is mainly, but not exclusively, yours. "Solely accountable for" means you are the only one responsible, with no shared accountability.