have serious responsibilities

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "have serious responsibilities" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing the weight or importance of duties or obligations someone has in a particular context, such as work or personal life. Example: "As a manager, I have serious responsibilities to ensure my team meets its goals and maintains a positive work environment."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Both roles have serious responsibilities".

The New York Times

Running through his apologia is an assumption that mainstream media's high priesthood have serious responsibilities because they are the gatekeepers of information – curators of the stories that a society tells about itself.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

The department has serious responsibilities to these students it permitted to enroll in Corinthian's schools and incur so much debt".

Huffington Post

A greater number of officer posts would be involved and this could potentially have serious implications for statutory responsibilities and the safeguarding of the most vulnerable".

The Guardian

"Anyone under such a cloud would be distracted from his major responsibilities, and I have serious concerns about the governor's ability to fully focus on important matters of state until these issues are resolved".

The New York Times

The women who became ill from the mysterious insect bites had generally worked more overtime than others and had serious family responsibilities that they could not fulfill because of job demands.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"If civil servants have serious concerns about policy initiatives, they have a responsibility to raise those concerns with ministers - that is the role of an impartial civil service.

BBC

So where do we go from here? A. Crises are opportunities to have serious conversations about the meaning of what college is about, our responsibility to these kids and mostly their responsibility to themselves.

The New York Times

"This may have serious consequences for the international system of protection that relies on the sharing, not shifting of responsibilities".

The Guardian

They have serious issues.

The New York Times

They have serious merit.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "have serious responsibilities", ensure the context clearly defines who holds these responsibilities and to whom or what they are accountable. Specificity enhances clarity and impact.

Common error

Avoid using "have serious responsibilities" when the context involves minor or routine duties. Using this phrase inappropriately can diminish its impact when describing truly significant obligations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have serious responsibilities" functions primarily as a verbal phrase expressing obligation or duty. It indicates that someone or something is entrusted with important tasks or accountabilities. Ludwig confirms that this phrase is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Formal & Business

24%

Science

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

6%

Wiki

4%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "have serious responsibilities" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to emphasize the significance of duties or obligations. As confirmed by Ludwig, this phrase appears most frequently in news media and formal business contexts. When writing, ensure that the context clearly defines the responsible party and their accountabilities to maximize clarity. Alternatives include "bear significant responsibilities" or "shoulder major duties", depending on the desired nuance. Avoid overuse in trivial contexts to maintain its impact. Overall, Ludwig's analysis confirms that "have serious responsibilities" is a reliable way to convey the weight and importance of specified duties.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

bear considerable obligations

Substitutes "serious responsibilities" with "considerable obligations", indicating a notable degree of duty.

possess major duties

Replaces "serious responsibilities" with "major duties", indicating significant obligations.

shoulder significant duties

Replaces "have" with a more formal verb, "shoulder", emphasizing the burden of responsibility.

carry significant burdens

Emphasizes the weight of responsibilities by using "carry" and "burdens", suggesting a heavy load.

face substantial accountabilities

Replaces "responsibilities" with "accountabilities", highlighting the aspect of being held accountable.

hold crucial roles

Shifts the focus to the importance of roles, implying that the responsibilities are inherently crucial.

uphold vital commitments

Highlights the act of maintaining important promises or pledges, using "uphold" to convey active engagement.

manage critical tasks

Focuses on the management aspect of important assignments, emphasizing the active handling of responsibilities.

undertake demanding roles

Emphasizes the challenging nature of the responsibilities associated with certain roles.

execute paramount functions

Elevates the importance of the actions performed, using "paramount" to highlight their supreme significance.

FAQs

How can I use "have serious responsibilities" in a sentence?

You can use "have serious responsibilities" to describe someone's important duties or obligations. For example, "As a project manager, I "have serious responsibilities" to ensure the project is completed on time and within budget."

What are some alternatives to "have serious responsibilities"?

Alternatives include "bear significant responsibilities", "shoulder major duties", or "face substantial accountabilities". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you wish to convey.

Is it more appropriate to say "have a serious responsibility" or "have serious responsibilities"?

The choice depends on whether you are referring to a single, significant duty ("have a serious responsibility") or multiple important obligations ("have serious responsibilities").

In what contexts is "have serious responsibilities" most commonly used?

"Have serious responsibilities" is frequently used in professional settings, news reports, and formal discussions to emphasize the weight and importance of certain roles or obligations.