have responsibility for

USAGE SUMMARY

"have responsibility for" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that someone holds a position of authority over or is accountable for something, often a task or duty. Example sentence: The supervisor has responsibility for training all new staff members.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This is not something that Swedens have responsibility for".1.1

European Journal of Futures Research

consider establishing response standards for focal point agencies who have responsibility for key cross cutting issues.

Unicef

Patients would then have "responsibility" for themselves.

The Guardian - Books

The participants perceived themselves to have responsibility for patients' families.

Accident and Emergency Nursing

Mr. Maymann will have responsibility for increasing traffic and revenue.

The New York Times

"You're the parents, and you have responsibility for the child.

The New Yorker

And we have responsibility for the whole world.

The New York Times

Some have responsibility for no fewer than five ministries.

The Economist

"I have responsibility for these postdocs," he said.

The New Yorker

Ultimately, they add, consumers have responsibility for their own finances.

The New York Times

I no longer have responsibility for those matters," Morrison said.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "have responsibility for" to clearly define roles and duties within an organization or project. This ensures accountability and prevents overlap.

Common error

Don't use "have responsibility for" without specifying the precise area of accountability. For example, instead of saying "He has responsibility for the project", specify "He has responsibility for the project's budget and timeline".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have responsibility for" functions as a verb phrase indicating a duty, obligation, or accountability toward a specific task, area, or person. Ludwig provides examples showing its usage in various contexts. It is often used to define roles and expectations.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Academia

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "have responsibility for" is a common and grammatically correct way to indicate that someone is accountable for a specific task, area, or person. As confirmed by Ludwig, it's versatile, fitting into various contexts from news and media to science and formal business settings. While phrases like "be accountable for" or "be in charge of" offer alternative ways to express similar concepts, "have responsibility for" clearly assigns a duty or obligation. When using this phrase, ensure you specify the precise area of accountability to avoid vagueness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be responsible for

Similar to the original, but lacks the 'have' which provides slightly less emphasis on the imposition of duty.

be accountable for

Focuses on the obligation to answer for the outcomes or consequences of actions.

bear the responsibility for

Suggests a heavier or more significant burden of responsibility.

be in charge of

Highlights the aspect of direct control and management.

hold accountable for

Highlights the act of holding someone responsible for their actions or decisions.

be tasked with

Emphasizes the assignment of a specific task or duty.

oversee

Implies a supervisory role with broader responsibilities.

be the duty of

Highlights the moral or formal obligation.

be liable for

Indicates a legal or financial obligation.

administer

Focuses on the management and execution aspect of a responsibility.

FAQs

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

You can use "have responsibility for" to indicate that someone is in charge of or accountable for something. For instance, "The manager "has responsibility for overseeing" the team's performance".

What are some alternatives to "have responsibility for"?

Some alternatives include "be accountable for", "be in charge of", or "be tasked with" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "have responsibility for" or "are responsible for"?

"Have responsibility for" and "are responsible for" are both grammatically correct and largely interchangeable. The choice often depends on stylistic preference or the specific emphasis you want to convey. "Have responsibility for" might slightly emphasize the assigned or imposed nature of the duty, but the difference is subtle.

What's the difference between "have responsibility for" and "have authority over"?

"Have responsibility for" implies accountability for a task or outcome, whereas "have authority over" indicates the power to make decisions or give orders. One can "have authority over" people without necessarily "have responsibility for" their actions, and vice versa.