devolve responsibility

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "devolve responsibility" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the transfer or delegation of responsibilities from one person or group to another, often in a formal or organizational context. Example: "The management decided to devolve responsibility for project oversight to the team leaders to encourage greater accountability."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

30 human-written examples

So devolve responsibility for the pursuit of fine-grained opportunities to your 200-plus top leaders.

Harvard Business Review

The classic mistake, he says, is to devolve responsibility to an HR department.

The Guardian

The answer is not to devolve responsibility to a conglomeration of states and private entrepreneurs.

The New York Times

There are good reasons to devolve responsibility to governments to deliver on this vital agenda.

The Guardian - Opinion

You can't devolve responsibility for the future of ballet to those who don't speak its language.

The Guardian

This year's budget contains some quite radical proposals, mainly to devolve responsibility for the programme to the states.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

30 human-written examples

The bill, part of the "northern powerhouse" drive to devolve responsibilities to major cities, has become the vehicle for devolving £6bn of health and care spending to Greater Manchester.

The Guardian

A close look at conservative policies to reduce government and devolve responsibilities on the states shows, however, that they have almost nothing to do with the Toffleresque logic of "demassification". The Contract with America does not actually pursue a consistent philosophy of devolution at all.

Princeton University

He continued, "Consistent with President Trump's guidance, we have devolved responsibility and authorities back to the departments".

The New Yorker

Its early centralising streak carried on the fake decentralisation of the later Thatcher and Major years, devolving responsibility without power – or much extra money.

The Guardian - Opinion

Setting out the process for devolving responsibility for part of income tax, Cameron and Clegg said: "Wales shouldn't depend on London for these decisions.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "devolve responsibility" when you want to empower others and promote distributed decision-making within an organization or system.

Common error

Avoid ambiguity when you "devolve responsibility". Vague definitions can lead to tasks falling through the cracks, or to individuals overstepping their boundaries. Provide clear guidelines and expectations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "devolve responsibility" functions as a verb phrase where "devolve" is a transitive verb taking "responsibility" as its direct object. It describes the act of transferring or delegating responsibilities, power, or authority to another entity.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Academia

4%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "devolve responsibility" is a commonly used and grammatically correct term for describing the transfer of duties or authority. As Ludwig AI highlights, it appears frequently in news, business, and academic contexts. When writing, it's essential to ensure the recipient is well-equipped for their new duties and that the scope of their responsibility is clearly defined. Alternatives such as "delegate authority" or "assign duties" may be appropriate depending on the context. Overall, "devolve responsibility" is a useful phrase to convey the act of shifting tasks or authority, and can be employed in a variety of professional settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

entrust responsibilities

Highlights the act of placing confidence in someone to handle important tasks.

delegate authority

This implies granting decision-making power along with the task.

decentralize decision-making

Shifts authority from a central body to local entities for greater autonomy.

assign duties

A straightforward transfer of tasks, often without additional authority.

pass down obligations

Suggests a transfer of responsibilities from a higher level to a lower one.

give over stewardship

Suggests transferring care and management to another party.

transfer accountability

Focuses on shifting the burden of being answerable for outcomes.

outsource functions

Involves contracting external parties to handle specific tasks or roles.

hand over control

Emphasizes the relinquishing of direct management.

cede governance

Indicates a more formal and comprehensive transfer of governing powers.

FAQs

What does "devolve responsibility" mean?

To "devolve responsibility" means to transfer or delegate duties, power, or control to someone else, typically from a central authority to a local entity or from a superior to a subordinate.

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

You can use "devolve responsibility" to indicate that duties or tasks are being passed on, such as: "The company decided to "delegate authority" to regional managers." or "The government plans to "transfer accountability" for local services to the community councils."

What are some alternatives to "devolve responsibility"?

Alternatives to "devolve responsibility" include "delegate authority", "assign duties", "transfer accountability", or "outsource functions". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nature of the transfer.

Is it better to "devolve responsibility" or "delegate responsibility"?

Both "devolve responsibility" and "delegate responsibility" involve transferring tasks, but "devolve" often implies a broader transfer of power or control, whereas "delegate" typically refers to a more specific task assignment. Therefore, choose the verb that most accurately reflects the scale and scope of the transfer.