general responsibility for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "general responsibility for" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the overall duties or obligations someone has regarding a specific task, project, or area of work. Example: "As the project manager, I have general responsibility for overseeing the team's progress and ensuring deadlines are met."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

In each of these, state civil servants had a general responsibility for maintaining public order, health, and morality.

Encyclopedia Britannica

1999 Britain reopens diplomatic channels with Libya after the Gaddafi regime accepts "general responsibility" for the death of PC Fletcher.

Independent

She, meanwhile, has assumed general responsibility for being in charge at the time, which seems to me appropriate for any secretary of state.

The New York Times

Mr. Mubarak was convicted on the ground of general responsibility for police killings, even though the same judge had acquitted many top police officials of the same charge.

The New York Times

Diplomatic ties between London and Tripoli were restored in early July after a tense 15-year break following Libya's acceptance of "general responsibility" for the murder of WPC Fletcher.

The Guardian

Earlier, Mr Cook met Libya's ambassador to Italy, Abdul-Ati al-Obeidi, to finalise a joint statement in which Tripoli "accepts general responsibility for the actions of those in the Libyan People's Bureau at the time of the shooting".

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

Announcing the new measures, the State Council said local governments should shoulder general responsibilities for local air quality.

Independent

The top three general responsibilities for supervising postdocs identified by survey participants were discussing research project and direction (96percentt), reviewing data analysis and interpretation of results (91percentt), and assisting with writing manuscripts and seminar preparation (84percentt).

Science Magazine

As part of his general responsibilities for IMF surveillance, Tamim oversees several strands of the IMF's multilateral policy and research agenda, including the early warning exercise, country vulnerability assessments, and trade issues.

Huffington Post

In general, responsibilities for various functions in our society are handed over to experts and their framework negotiated within political and expert systems.

European Journal of Human Genetics

It depends on the outcome of the investigation by the attorney general into the general's responsibility for the deaths in East Timor.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using more specific terms like "overall accountability" or "chief responsibility" if the context requires a stronger emphasis on the obligation or importance of the duty.

Common error

Avoid using "general responsibility for" without clarifying the specific areas covered. Vague descriptions can lead to confusion and diffusion of accountability. Always outline the key tasks and areas of oversight.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "general responsibility for" functions as a noun phrase, typically followed by a noun or gerund phrase that specifies the area or task for which the responsibility is held. This structure indicates a broad or overall accountability. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Science

28%

Encyclopedias

9%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "general responsibility for" is a grammatically sound expression used to denote a broad level of accountability or oversight. Ludwig indicates that it’s correct and usable in written English. Although the phrase is not extremely common, it appears across various authoritative sources, including news media, scientific publications, and encyclopedias. When employing this phrase, ensure that the scope of responsibility is clearly defined to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives such as "overall accountability for" or "chief responsibility for" can provide added emphasis or specificity depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

overall accountability for

Focuses more on the obligation to answer for the results, emphasizing a broader scope of duties.

broad responsibility for

Highlights the extensive nature of the duties, emphasizing wide-ranging obligations.

chief responsibility for

Indicates the primary and most important duty within a set of obligations.

main responsibility for

Emphasizes the principal duty among several, suggesting a core obligation.

principal responsibility for

Highlights the most significant and leading duty in a set of tasks.

primary obligation for

Shifts the focus slightly to the mandatory aspect of the duty, emphasizing legal or moral requirements.

ultimate responsibility for

Indicates the final level of accountability, suggesting a top-tier duty.

overall duty for

Emphasizes the all-encompassing nature of the task, highlighting a comprehensive obligation.

general oversight of

Suggests a supervisory role, indicating a duty to monitor and manage.

comprehensive role in

Highlights the extensive involvement and wide-ranging actions within a task.

FAQs

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

You can use "general responsibility for" to indicate a broad area of accountability. For example, "The project manager has "general responsibility for" the project's timeline and budget."

What's the difference between "general responsibility for" and "specific responsibility for"?

"General responsibility for" implies a broad oversight, while "specific responsibility for" indicates accountability for a particular task or area. One might have "general responsibility for" a department and "specific responsibility for" training new hires.

Are there synonyms for "general responsibility for" that I can use?

Yes, alternatives include "overall accountability for", "broad responsibility for", or "chief responsibility for", depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "general responsibility for" in formal writing?

Yes, "general responsibility for" is suitable for formal writing, especially when outlining roles and duties. However, ensure the context is clear and specific enough to avoid ambiguity.