failure to take responsibility

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "failure to take responsibility" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where someone is not accepting accountability for their actions or decisions. Example: "The team's failure to take responsibility for the project's shortcomings led to a loss of trust from management."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

Still, Mr. Khalifi said, the problems stemmed from poverty and the state's failure to take responsibility.

The New York Times

A number of TV commentators swiftly decried his performance, particularly noting his failure to take responsibility.

The New York Times

Clark himself says that he's just angry at the commander in chief's failure to take responsibility.

The New York Times - Magazine

Even her generosity is not a commendable quality, but about a girlish failure to take responsibility.

The Guardian

But it also true that Green's failure to take responsibility did not happen in a vacuum.

The Guardian - Business

"Failure to take responsibility for these British dependencies substantially undermines the effectiveness of this agreement," he said.

The Guardian - Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

But in Romania, grassroots efforts have managed to concentrate popular dissatisfaction with failures to take responsibility for public life.

The Guardian - Opinion

"It inculcated a burning sense of being aggrieved at wrongdoing, and at the failure of people to take responsibility for their actions," Sands said.

The New Yorker

These perceptions are important because, as Dickinson (1995) explains, they will influence their future performance because learners should also have control over learning success and failure in order to take responsibility for their own learning.

Asian-Pacific Journal of Second and Foreign Language Education

The risks highlighted in the plan include a failure to shift enough acute care out of hospitals, a possible collapse of the private care-home market and a failure to get people to take responsibility for their own health.

The Guardian

North-west London's draft plan highlights risks to the implementation of the programme, including a failure to shift enough acute care out of hospitals, a possible collapse of the private care home market, and a failure to get people to take responsibility for their own health.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "failure to take responsibility", ensure that the context clearly identifies who is failing to take responsibility and for what actions or outcomes. Be specific to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "failure to take responsibility" as a generic criticism. Instead, pinpoint the specific actions or decisions for which responsibility was not taken. For example, instead of saying "The company showed a failure to take responsibility", specify "The company failed to take responsibility for the environmental damage caused by the oil spill".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "failure to take responsibility" functions primarily as a noun phrase. It typically acts as the subject or object of a sentence, denoting a lack of accountability or ownership. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically sound and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "failure to take responsibility" is a grammatically correct and frequently used noun phrase that describes a lack of accountability. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is most commonly found in news and media, scientific, and wiki contexts. When using this phrase, it's best to be specific about who is failing to take responsibility and for what actions. Common errors include overgeneralization, where the criticism lacks specific details. Alternatives include "refusal to accept accountability" and "inability to acknowledge responsibility". The phrase carries a formal tone and is used to express disapproval or concern. Its frequent appearance in reputable sources like The New York Times and The Guardian underscores its significance in discussions of accountability across various domains.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

refusal to accept accountability

Emphasizes the unwillingness to be held accountable.

inability to acknowledge responsibility

Highlights the lack of capacity to recognize one's own obligations.

avoidance of accountability

Focuses on actively evading being held responsible.

dereliction of duty

Implies a neglect of assigned responsibilities.

passing the buck

Suggests shifting responsibility to someone else.

evading ownership

Highlights the act of not claiming responsibility for something.

shirking responsibility

Indicates a deliberate avoidance of responsibilities.

lack of accountability

Focuses on the absence of accountability.

irresponsibility

A general term for not being responsible.

negligence

Implies a failure to exercise reasonable care, leading to a breach of responsibility.

FAQs

What does "failure to take responsibility" mean?

It signifies a lack of acceptance or acknowledgment of one's duties, obligations, or the consequences of one's actions. It often implies a refusal to be held accountable for mistakes or shortcomings.

What can I say instead of "failure to take responsibility"?

You can use alternatives like "refusal to accept accountability", "inability to acknowledge responsibility", or "dereliction of duty" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "failure to take responsibility"?

Yes, "failure to take responsibility" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase in English. It functions as a noun phrase.

How is "failure to take responsibility" different from "avoidance of accountability"?

"Failure to take responsibility" generally refers to a lack of accepting responsibility, while "avoidance of accountability" suggests an active effort to evade being held responsible.