essentially responsible

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "essentially responsible" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It is typically used to describe someone or something that is primarily or mainly responsible for a certain action or outcome. Example: The project's success was essentially responsible due to the hard work and dedication of the team's project manager.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

27 human-written examples

Pectus excavatum (PE) is a congenital deformity essentially responsible for an unattractive aspect, much more rarely for compression problems.

Orthopaedics & Traumatology: Surgery & Research

The NDMC, which is an appointed body, is essentially responsible for New Delhi and its adjoining areas.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Essentially responsible for fielding complaints about the city's services, the public advocate has a minuscule budget and little direct power.

The New York Times

Rocket science: Essentially "responsible" for moon-landing deniers, rocket science has produced its fair share of pseudoscience, mostly linked to conspiracy theories.

The Guardian

In that job, he was essentially responsible for running the State Department, which during the Watergate period effectively ran America's foreign policy for a distracted White House.

The New York Times

Bannister, a right-handed starter, is known for his appreciation of modern pitching metrics, which emphasize the factors for which pitchers are essentially responsible: walks, strikeouts, home runs and hit batters.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

33 human-written examples

It doesn't take a genius to work out that if a military force occupies a country, it essentially becomes responsible for safeguarding people's lives and for controlling the peace.

The Guardian - Opinion

Adam himself is a fringe academic; that is to say, he is an expert on the Arts and Crafts Movement, currently interested in the postwar new construction of Coventry cathedral, doing occasional university work, but essentially the responsible parent.

The Guardian - Books

How is the arbitration decided? A. Horowitz, as the impartial arbiter, will essentially be responsible for deciding whether the 211- game suspension stands, should be reduced, or should be thrown out altogether.

The New York Times - Sports

Experts say that Google and other search engines see some of these court cases as an assault on a principle of law already established — that search engines are essentially not responsible for the information they corral from the Web, and hope the Spanish court agrees.

The New York Times

Ditto, essentially, for responsible stewardship of accessible water and the global climate.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "essentially responsible", ensure the context clearly indicates the scope and limits of the responsibility being described. Avoid overstating the degree of influence or accountability.

Common error

Avoid using "essentially responsible" when describing shared responsibilities. Instead, opt for phrases like "contributed significantly" or "played a key role" to accurately reflect the distribution of accountability.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "essentially responsible" functions as an adjective phrase, modifying a noun to indicate the primary source of accountability or causation. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Wiki

4%

Academia

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "essentially responsible" is a common and grammatically sound way to indicate the primary entity accountable for a particular outcome. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's widely used across various contexts, from news and media to scientific and formal business settings. While it implies a significant degree of accountability, it doesn't necessarily exclude other contributing factors. When using this phrase, ensure clarity regarding the scope of responsibility and consider alternatives like "mainly responsible" or "primarily accountable" for nuanced contexts. Avoid overstating the level of accountability to maintain accuracy and avoid misleading implications.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

primarily accountable

This alternative emphasizes direct accountability, similar to being "essentially responsible".

largely responsible

Highlights the significant portion of responsibility held.

chiefly accountable

Indicates top-level responsibility and oversight.

mainly in charge

Focuses on the aspect of being in control and leading a task or area.

the main contributor

Emphasizes the aspect of providing the most significant input.

basically in control

Underscores the control aspect, suggesting fundamental management.

the key driver

Focuses on the role of being the motivating factor.

principally liable

Implies a legal or formal sense of responsibility.

instrumental in

Highlights the crucial role in bringing about a result.

mostly to blame

This alternative focuses on culpability and causality.

FAQs

How can I use "essentially responsible" in a sentence?

You can use "essentially responsible" to indicate the primary person or factor accountable for a specific outcome. For instance, "The project manager was essentially responsible for the project's success."

What are some alternatives to using "essentially responsible"?

You can use alternatives like "mainly responsible", "primarily accountable", or "largely responsible" depending on the context. For instance, instead of "He was essentially responsible for the error", you could say "He was "mainly responsible" for the error".

Is it correct to say "essentially responsible for" something?

Yes, it is grammatically correct. The phrase "essentially responsible for" indicates that someone or something bears the primary accountability for a particular action or outcome.

What's the difference between "essentially responsible" and "wholly responsible"?

"Essentially responsible" implies primary but not necessarily exclusive responsibility, while "wholly responsible" suggests complete and sole accountability. "Essentially responsible" allows for the possibility of other contributing factors.