he was at fault

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "he was at fault" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone is responsible for a mistake or wrongdoing. Example: "After reviewing the evidence, it was clear that he was at fault for the accident."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Sports

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"He was at fault, it's true.

The Guardian - Sport

Fitzgerald initially resisted the idea that he was at fault.

The New Yorker

He was at fault for Germany's first goal.

The New York Times - Sports

He came close to admitting he was at fault for not fulfilling his camp obligations.

The New York Times - Sports

In some cases, Trump acknowledged he was wrong — but not that he was at fault.

The Washington Post

He seemed nonplussed that anyone would think he was at fault for the incident.

The Guardian

He described himself as "far more mindful of my own failings," but didn't specify where he was at fault.

The New York Times

State courts in Texas rejected Mr. Skinner's requests under the law, saying he was at fault for not having sought testing earlier.

The New York Times

But his humility did not extend to declaring that he was at fault or that he should step down from his company.

The New York Times

The judge sided with the woman, reasoning that Mr Peng would not have bothered to help her unless he was at fault.

The Economist

Boyle, who admitted that he was at fault for not understanding the rule, has said that the sessions were run to showcase his players to college coaches.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "he was at fault", ensure the context clearly indicates what specific action or event the person is being held responsible for. Providing specific details enhances clarity.

Common error

Avoid simply stating "he was at fault" without specifying what he did wrong. This can create ambiguity and weaken your argument. Always provide context and details.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he was at fault" functions as a predicate nominative, attributing blame or responsibility to a specific individual. It asserts that the subject's actions or omissions led to a negative outcome. Ludwig AI confirms that this usage is grammatically sound.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Sports

25%

Science

5%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "he was at fault" is a grammatically correct and very common expression used to assign blame or responsibility for a particular action or event. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is suitable for various contexts, with a primary presence in News & Media and Sports. When employing this phrase, it's beneficial to be clear about the specific actions for which the individual is being held accountable. While acceptable, there are a variety of alternative expressions available to adjust the tone and level of formality as needed, such as "he was responsible" or "he was to blame".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he was responsible

This alternative is a more neutral and formal way of stating that someone bears responsibility for something.

he was to blame

This phrase directly assigns blame, often implying a negative consequence.

he is accountable

This suggests a formal obligation to answer for the outcome of an action.

he made the mistake

This focuses on the action of making an error, rather than assigning fault.

he erred

This is a more formal and somewhat archaic way of saying someone made a mistake.

he was the cause

This highlights the person as the origin of an event or problem.

he is culpable

This term is more legalistic, suggesting guilt or deserving of blame.

he screwed up

This is an informal way to say someone made a bad mistake.

he dropped the ball

This idiom suggests a failure to fulfill a responsibility or task.

the error was his

This restructures the sentence to emphasize the error rather than the person.

FAQs

What does "he was at fault" mean?

The phrase "he was at fault" means that someone is responsible for a mistake, error, or wrongdoing. It implies that their actions or inactions led to a negative outcome.

What can I say instead of "he was at fault"?

You can use alternatives like "he was responsible", "he was to blame", or "he made the mistake" depending on the context and the degree of formality required.

Is "he was at fault" grammatically correct?

Yes, "he was at fault" is grammatically correct. It follows standard English sentence structure and is widely used.

How can I use "he was at fault" in a sentence?

You can use "he was at fault" to assign responsibility for an action or event. For example, "After the investigation, it was determined that "he was at fault" for the accident."