delegate power

USAGE SUMMARY

"delegate power" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to the action of assigning someone else authority and responsibility for a certain task. For example: "The CEO decided to delegate power to his deputy to make decisions on his behalf during his holiday."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

24 human-written examples

The greatest filmmakers have all understood the complicating significance of music, and one measure of their greatness is their willingness to delegate power to composers.

The New Yorker

In The Ethics of Invention, renowned scholar Sheila Jasanoff dissects the ways in which we delegate power to technological systems and asks how we might regain control.

Harvard University

The NLRB argues that its founding statutes permit a five-member board to delegate power to a three-member board, and that the three-member board may further delegate to a quorum of two.

The Economist

Conventional studies of autonomy at genesis are few and far between, with most of this sparse literature focusing on why a single founder usually a politician unilaterally chooses to delegate power to the new agency.

Stanford University

The court assumed that to delegate power to mak such rules was consistent with the Constitution of the state, and that the statute had conferred upon the board power to make rules.

Cornell University

Professor Tribe challenges the Court's premise that Congress's veto decision in Chadha was necessarily a legis- lative action and questions the general principle that Congress cannot delegate power to itself.

Harvard University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

36 human-written examples

Governments can delegate powers to local authorities to manage their part of the coast and lay down procedures and budgets.

The Economist

His stupendous ego does not allow him to delegate powers that he believes should be monopolized by the president.

The Guardian - Opinion

The Times and Sunday Times editors Robert Thomson and John Witherow delegate powers to Anne Spackman, the editor-in-chief of Times Online.

The Guardian

Where Mr Eisner micro-managed, Mr Iger is delegating power to senior managers.

The Economist

Delegating power to the Commission to preempt state registration authority by regulation simply does not work.

Columbia University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "delegate power", ensure that the context clearly defines the scope and limits of the delegated authority to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid vaguely defining the boundaries of delegated power. Be specific about what tasks or decisions the recipient is authorized to handle.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "delegate power" functions as a verb phrase where 'delegate' acts as a transitive verb taking 'power' as its direct object. This indicates an action of transferring authority or responsibility, as confirmed by Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Academia

29%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Science

4%

Formal & Business

4%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "delegate power" is a common and grammatically correct expression used to describe the act of transferring authority or responsibility. Ludwig AI confirms its usability and accuracy. It appears frequently in News & Media and Academic contexts, indicating a neutral to professional register. When using "delegate power", it's crucial to define the scope of authority clearly to avoid ambiguity. Related phrases include "assign authority" and "transfer responsibility", offering alternative ways to express similar concepts. The linguistic analysis reveals its function as a verb phrase and its purpose of authorizing or empowering others.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

assign authority

Focuses on the act of assigning, emphasizing the transfer of authority.

transfer responsibility

Highlights the shifting of responsibility rather than power.

devolve authority

Implies a downward transfer of power, often from a central authority to regional entities.

entrust with authority

Emphasizes the trust placed in the recipient of the power.

give authorization

Highlights the act of giving official permission or approval.

grant powers

More formal and legalistic, suggesting a formal bestowal of powers.

empower subordinates

Focuses on giving power specifically to those lower in a hierarchy.

authorize decision-making

Specifically relates to granting the ability to make decisions.

cede control

Implies a relinquishing of control, often in a reluctant manner.

hand over command

Suggests the transfer of leadership or control, typically in a military or organizational context.

FAQs

How is "delegate power" typically used in a sentence?

The phrase "delegate power" is used to describe the act of entrusting someone with authority or responsibility. For instance, "The manager chose to "delegate power" to the team leader for day-to-day operations".

What are some alternatives to "delegate power"?

You can use alternatives such as "assign authority", "transfer responsibility", or "devolve authority" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "delegate of power" instead of "delegate power"?

While "delegate of power" might be understood, it's not the standard phrasing. The correct and more common phrase is ""delegate power"", which directly conveys the action of transferring authority.

What's the difference between "delegate power" and "grant authority"?

"Delegate power" implies a transfer of existing authority, while "grant authority" suggests bestowing new or additional authority. They are similar but not always interchangeable.