duty lies

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "duty lies" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate where a responsibility or obligation is situated or assigned. Example: "In this organization, the duty lies with the team leader to ensure all tasks are completed on time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

Nevertheless, we know where our duty lies, and it is not in celebrity name-dropping.

The New York Times

He knows where his duty lies, and Clara gets her man in time for Christmas.

The Guardian

He is likely to remind a broadly sympathetic Congress where America's duty lies in confronting the "existential threat" to Israel.

The Economist

We swear an oath to the Queen as head of state, our duty lies to the public, not the government.

The Guardian - Opinion

The Co-operative Group's day of decision is on Saturday and committee members should, by now, know where their duty lies.

The Guardian - Business

"Without doubt, the publication of my name within the Laureus foundation would cause badly interpreted reactions that would provoke a negative impact to our family and to the royal household, which is where our duty lies," it read.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

He saw where his duty lay.

The Guardian

Still higher above the literal and the allegorical levels, the reader came to the tropological level, which told him where his moral duty lay.

Encyclopedia Britannica

What is the right balance between reportage and rating, and where does the reviewer's duty lie: to the art form or to the consumer?

The Guardian

Alan Stevenson, RLS's uncle, shared his nephew's literary bent and befriended Wordsworth, but, once persuaded where his duty lay, he accepted the challenge zealously.

The Guardian

Dominican-born, Cuban-bred Camila Henriquez Urena didn't wait for an American politician to tell her where her patriotic duty lay.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "duty lies", ensure that the subject who holds the duty is clearly identified to avoid ambiguity. For example, specify "the duty lies with the manager" rather than simply "the duty lies here".

Common error

Avoid using "duty lies" in a way that obscures who is actually accountable. Instead of saying "the duty lies in improving communication", specify who holds that duty, such as "the duty lies with the project team to improve communication".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "duty lies" functions as a declarative statement, indicating where a specific obligation or responsibility is situated. As seen in Ludwig, it is used to clearly assign accountability to a person, group, or entity. The examples show it is frequently followed by a prepositional phrase specifying where the duty resides.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

31%

Encyclopedias

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Wiki

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "duty lies" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed expression used to clearly pinpoint where a responsibility or obligation resides. According to Ludwig, it's most commonly found in news and media, science, and encyclopedia sources, signifying its versatility across various registers. While grammatically correct, ensuring clarity in assigning responsibility by specifying who holds the duty is crucial. Alternatives like "responsibility rests" or "obligation falls" can be used depending on the desired nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

responsibility rests

Replaces "duty" with "responsibility" and uses a different verb to convey the location of the responsibility.

obligation falls

Substitutes "duty" with "obligation" and uses "falls" to indicate where the obligation is placed.

responsibility falls upon

Similar to "obligation falls" but specifies that the responsibility "falls upon" someone or something.

the onus is on

Uses "onus" to mean burden or responsibility and places it "on" someone.

it is incumbent upon

Emphasizes the binding nature of the duty using "incumbent upon".

the task falls to

Replaces duty with task and explains where it falls.

the buck stops

An idiomatic expression meaning ultimate responsibility.

the responsibility resides

Explains that responsibility resides to a place.

burden of responsibility is

Explains what is the burden of responsibility

the seat of responsibility is

The place or center where the responsibility resides

FAQs

How can I use "duty lies" in a sentence?

You can use "duty lies" to specify where a particular responsibility or obligation is located. For instance, "The "duty lies" with the supervisor to ensure all safety protocols are followed."

What can I say instead of "duty lies"?

Alternatives to "duty lies" include "responsibility rests", "obligation falls", or "the onus is on", depending on the context.

Which is correct, "duty lies" or "duty lays"?

"Duty lies" is the correct phrase. "Lies" is the present tense of the verb "to lie", meaning to be situated. "Lays" is the present tense of the verb "to lay", meaning to place something down.

What's the difference between "duty lies" and "responsibility lies"?

While both phrases are similar, ""duty lies"" often implies a moral or legal obligation, whereas "responsibility lies" can refer to a broader range of accountabilities.