handing over the task

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "handing over the task" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when transferring responsibility for a task from one person to another. For example, "My supervisor was handing over the task of organizing the office party to me."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Speaking at the same press conference, Mr. Papaconstantinou said he was "extremely happy" to be handing over the task of reviving the economy to a colleague with "experience and dedication".

The New York Times

The top American negotiator, Frank E. Loy, visibly tired and rubbing his forehead and eyes, agreed that the effort should continue, even when he and the Clinton administration would be handing over the task to a new administration.

The New York Times

Second, they reverse the promise of consistency by handing over the task of assuring internal consistency of qualitative scenarios from the numerical models to the CIB.

European Journal of Futures Research

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Despite promises by David Cameron and the former justice secretary, Ken Clarke, that investigations would be continued by an independent, judge-led inquiry, the government told the Commons on Thursday that it had handed over the task to the intelligence and security committee of selected MPs and peers.

The Guardian

Once the elements of the learning process were planned, the facilitator handed over the task to the students, who took responsibility for their learning.

International Journal for Educational Integrity

He said she handed over the biggest task she faced - press regulation - to cabinet colleague Oliver Letwin, taking "a junior or minor role" for herself.

BBC

The path to democracy began in 2001, when the former king, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, handed over the day-to-day tasks of government to a council of ministers, and finally stepped down in favor of his son in late 2006.

The New York Times

She handed over the art.

The New York Times - Arts

The chief constable of West Mercia police, Peter Hampton, last month rejected the families' demand that the inquiry be handed over to the task force.

The Guardian

But as interest grew, the family handed over the task to professionals.

The New York Times - Magazine

LONDON — The British banking lobby responsible for setting Libor said it was happy to hand over the task to regulators, days ahead of an expected U.K. proposal to take tighter control of the scandal-tainted benchmark borrowing rate.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "handing over the task", clearly state who is relinquishing the task and who is receiving it to avoid confusion.

Common error

Avoid ambiguity by specifying the exact nature and scope of the "task" being handed over. Instead of just saying "handing over the task", be explicit: "handing over the task of managing social media accounts."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "handing over the task" functions as a verb phrase describing the action of transferring responsibility for a specific duty or assignment. According to Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

17%

Formal & Business

16%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "handing over the task" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe the transfer of responsibility for a duty or assignment. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. While not overly common, the phrase is appropriate across various contexts, particularly in news and media, science, and formal business settings. When using this phrase, ensure you clearly specify who is relinquishing and receiving the task to avoid any ambiguity. Alternative phrases like "delegating the task" or "assigning the responsibility" can be used depending on the desired level of formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Delegating the task

Focuses on assigning the task to someone, emphasizing authority.

Assigning the responsibility

Emphasizes the transfer of duty or accountability.

Transferring the duty

Highlights the shift of obligation from one party to another.

Passing on the task

An informal way to describe the act of giving the task to someone else.

Entrusting the task

Implies a level of trust in the person receiving the task.

Ceding the responsibility

Suggests a formal relinquishing of control over the task.

Relinquishing the assignment

Highlights a formal release of the duty or obligation.

Turning over the assignment

Similar to passing on the task, implies a change in who is managing the task.

Reassigning the task

Focuses on the act of assigning the task to a different person or group.

Dispatching the task

Suggests sending the task to someone, perhaps implying urgency or efficiency.

FAQs

How can I use "handing over the task" in a sentence?

You can use "handing over the task" to describe the act of transferring responsibility for a particular duty or assignment. For example, "The manager is "handing over the task" of training new employees to a senior team member".

What is a more formal way to say "handing over the task"?

More formal alternatives include "delegating the task", "assigning the responsibility", or "transferring the duty".

Is it better to say "handing over the task" or "delegating the task"?

Both phrases are correct, but "delegating the task" might be preferred in formal settings as it implies a clear transfer of authority and responsibility. The choice depends on the context and the desired tone.

What does "passing on the task" mean, and how is it different from "handing over the task"?

"Passing on the task" is a more informal way of saying the same thing as "handing over the task". Both phrases refer to transferring a job or responsibility to someone else.