establish responsibility for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'establish responsibility for' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when explaining that someone has been assigned a task or duty related to a particular problem or situation. For example, "The executive agreed to establish responsibility for the project's delays and find a resolution as soon as possible."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

Human Rights Watch has described the trial as "an important stage" in efforts to establish responsibility for the use of children in military operations.

The Guardian

Valérie Murat wanted to pursue the legal action to establish responsibility for her father's death, spurring on France's first ever criminal investigation of its kind into the homicide involontaire (manslaughter) of a vineyard worker.

The Guardian

It has been difficult to establish responsibility for the school collapses partly because it is unclear in many cases which level of government is responsible for the original school construction and for ongoing inspections.

The New York Times

The trial, under way since November, was the first court proceeding brought by Russian prosecutors to establish responsibility for the wave of apartment bombings that terrorized many Russians and inflamed public opinion against the Chechen rebellion.

The New York Times

The investigation into the deaths of 156 people and the disappearance of 25 more during the tsunami seeks to establish responsibility for the confusing and contradictory chain of decisions made by government officials and emergency agencies shortly after the earthquake.

The New York Times

The cases show how hard it is to establish responsibility for atrocious crimes, 70 years after they took place.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

Recognizing the complex roots of the conflict, the agreement also called for establishing responsibility for the crimes committed and for constitutional, electoral and security-sector reforms, so that the cycle of violence would not be repeated.

The New York Times

The report, by Stephen Heder, a Cambodia scholar, and Brian D. Tittemore, a legal expert, was written out of frustration -- concerned that without a tribunal there would never be a legal document establishing responsibility for the Cambodian killings, said Diane Orentlicher of American University, who led the project.

The New York Times

A few other highlights of the provision: –It would knock out a significant current barrier to litigation by doing away with a rule that restricts the filing of a Medicare suit until after a previous "judgment," that is to say, after the success of an earlier lawsuit establishing responsibility for the injury.

Forbes

It is also prudent, Mr. London said, for the parties to enter into a written pretrade agreement that establishes responsibilities for problems that may arise, including who pays for utilities during the swap and what should happen if problems with the house itself arise.

The New York Times

However, it is far from clear that authorship – which should establish responsibility and accountability for research [ 35] – is the appropriate method to level this playing field.

BMC Medical Ethics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "establish responsibility for", clearly state who is being assigned responsibility and for what specific task or outcome. This avoids ambiguity and ensures accountability.

Common error

Avoid using "establish responsibility for" without specifying the context. Instead of saying "We need to establish responsibility for this", specify "We need to establish responsibility for the budget overruns with the finance department".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "establish responsibility for" functions as a verb phrase that indicates the action of assigning or defining accountability for a specific task, event, or outcome. It sets up the framework to define who is in charge, as supported by Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

39%

Formal & Business

19%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "establish responsibility for" is used to denote the act of assigning or clarifying accountability for a task, event, or outcome. As per Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English. Predominantly found in news, scientific, and formal business contexts, it serves to clarify roles and ensure accountability, often in professional environments. Consider using alternatives like "assign accountability for" or "determine liability for" to achieve a similar meaning. Remember to be specific when assigning responsibility to avoid ambiguity and ensure effective monitoring.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

assign accountability for

Focuses on the act of assigning responsibility.

determine liability for

Specifically relates to legal or financial responsibility.

pinpoint accountability for

Highlights the act of precisely identifying who is responsible.

set out obligations for

Emphasizes the laying out or detailing of responsibilities.

clarify obligations regarding

Emphasizes making duties clear, not necessarily assigning blame.

define duties regarding

Focuses on setting out the tasks that someone is required to do.

attribute accountability to

Focuses on ascribing responsibility to someone or something.

ascertain culpability for

Focuses on finding who is at fault or blameworthy.

impute responsibility to

Suggests assigning responsibility, sometimes implying it may be unfair or inaccurate.

allocate blame for

Specifically relates to assigning fault or blame.

FAQs

How can I use "establish responsibility for" in a sentence?

You can use "establish responsibility for" when discussing the process of assigning accountability for a task, error, or outcome. For example, "The investigation aims to "determine liability for" the accident" or "We must "assign accountability for" project delays."

What are some alternatives to "establish responsibility for"?

Alternatives include "assign accountability for", "determine liability for", or "clarify obligations regarding", depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to use "establish responsibility for" or "take responsibility for"?

"Establish responsibility for" refers to assigning or determining who is accountable. "Take responsibility for" implies accepting accountability oneself. The choice depends on whether you're assigning blame or accepting it.

What's the difference between "establish responsibility for" and "determine responsibility for"?

While similar, "establish responsibility for" suggests setting up or clarifying where accountability lies, while "determine responsibility for" implies finding out who is already accountable. The first is proactive, the second reactive.