determining responsibility

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "determining responsibility" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where you are assessing or identifying who is accountable for a particular action or situation. Example: "The committee is focused on determining responsibility for the project's delays."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

"This action is about determining responsibility, not casting blame," the Rev.

The New York Times

In a sport like hockey with brutal competition for roster spots and a culture that punishes players for refusing to play through pain, it is unrealistic and unfair to put the burden of disclosing injuries – particularly brain injuries – in determining responsibility for actions.

The Guardian - Sport

The key question in determining responsibility is this: Did these authors have any reason to suspect the data?

Science Magazine

Fan and his colleagues lay out a common-sense approach to determining responsibility for greenhouse gas emissions and use a complex formula based on accumulated emissions from 1950 to 2005 to quantify how much responsibility, in China's view, each nation should shoulder.

Forbes

This article considers five areas in which brain imaging raises ethical and legal issues: diagnosing disorders of consciousness, predicting neuropsychiatric disorders, detecting incidental neurological findings, determining responsibility and detecting lies in the criminal law, and protecting privacy and confidentiality of information about the brain.

Encyclopedia of Applied Ethics

The U.N. inspectors are charged with documenting and confirming allegations of attacks, not determining responsibility.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

But machine learning is not so transparent, and one of its biggest challenges is determining responsibilities.

TechCrunch

We have to wait for a court to determine responsibility.

The New York Times

"It is for others to pursue this matter further to determine responsibility.

The Guardian

But he said the government needed to collect evidence to determine responsibility.

The New York Times

It determined responsibility in three cases and said evidence in three others pointed to government responsibility but was not conclusive.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about complex situations, clearly define the criteria used for "determining responsibility" to avoid ambiguity and ensure fairness.

Common error

Avoid using vague terms like "someone" or "they" when discussing responsibility. Clearly specify the individual or group accountable to prevent confusion and ensure tasks are completed effectively.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "determining responsibility" functions as a gerund phrase, often acting as a noun. It describes the act of finding out who is accountable for something. Ludwig provides examples where it is used in various contexts, such as investigations or project failures.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Academia

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "determining responsibility" is a grammatically sound gerund phrase used to describe the act of finding out who is accountable for something. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in various contexts, particularly in News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business settings. While alternatives like "establishing accountability" or "assessing liability" exist, "determining responsibility" maintains its specific focus on the investigative and evaluative aspect of accountability. When using this phrase, clarity in defining criteria is crucial to avoid vagueness. Although less frequent than some alternatives, it remains a valuable and precise term in both formal and neutral registers.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

establishing accountability

Focuses on the act of making someone answerable for their actions.

identifying culpability

Emphasizes finding who is at fault or guilty.

assessing liability

Specifically refers to legal responsibility and financial burden.

ascertaining fault

Highlights the process of discovering where an error or mistake occurred.

pinpointing blame

Suggests directly attributing responsibility to someone or something.

assessing answerability

Focuses on evaluating who must provide an explanation or justification.

defining obligation

Focuses on specifying the duties or commitments involved.

clarifying duties

Emphasizes making roles and tasks clearer in terms of who is responsible.

figuring out who's at fault

An informal way of expressing the process of identifying the person responsible.

assigning ownership

Highlights the act of designating who is in charge of a task or project.

FAQs

How can I use "determining responsibility" in a sentence?

You can use "determining responsibility" in sentences such as, "The investigation aims at determining responsibility for the data breach" or "The board is focused on determining responsibility for the project's failure".

What are some alternatives to "determining responsibility"?

Some alternatives to "determining responsibility" include "establishing accountability", "assessing liability", and "identifying culpability".

What's the difference between "determining responsibility" and "assigning responsibility"?

"Determining responsibility" involves finding out who is accountable after an event, while "assigning responsibility" involves allocating tasks or duties beforehand.

Is it correct to say "determine responsibility" instead of "determining responsibility"?

Both phrases are correct, but they function differently. "Determine responsibility" is an imperative or infinitive, while "determining responsibility" is a gerund phrase often used as a noun or part of a larger clause.