held accountable for

USAGE SUMMARY

"held accountable for" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is used to describe a situation in which someone is responsible for their actions and may be subject to sanctions or other forms of punishment if they fail to fulfill their duties or responsibilities. For example, "The board of directors must be held accountable for any poor decisions they have made."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

I'm being held accountable for the storm.

The Guardian - Sport

Will someone be held accountable for it?

The Guardian

Should he be held accountable for that?

The Guardian - TV & Radio

"They're not being held accountable" for bad recommendations, he maintained.

The New York Times

Who should be held accountable for this miserably failed strategy?

The New York Times

Who was to be held accountable for it?

The Economist

But we'll be held accountable for how we handle this".

The New Yorker

"They have to be held accountable for this".

The New York Times

"I am being held accountable for the current storm.

Independent

And yet, none have been held accountable for these transgressions.

The New York Times

The president is held accountable for the thousands of students.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "held accountable for" when you want to emphasize that someone will face consequences if they fail to meet their responsibilities.

Common error

Avoid using "held accountable for" without specifying what someone is accountable for. For example, instead of saying "They will be held accountable", specify "They will be held accountable for the project's failure".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "held accountable for" functions as a predicate adjective phrase, describing the state of being responsible and liable for certain actions or outcomes. Ludwig AI provides numerous examples showing its use across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "held accountable for" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to convey the idea of being responsible and liable for specific actions or outcomes. According to Ludwig AI, it appears frequently in news and media sources but is also relevant in formal and business settings. To enhance clarity, it is best practice to explicitly state what someone is "held accountable for". Alternatives include "held responsible for" and "held liable for", though "held accountable for" often carries a stronger implication of consequences.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

held responsible for

This alternative emphasizes the aspect of bearing responsibility for something.

held liable for

This alternative highlights legal or financial responsibility.

answerable for

This option focuses on the obligation to provide an explanation or justification.

liable for

A shorter way to express legal responsibility.

responsible for

This alternative is a more general way to express being in charge of something.

chargeable for

This option implies that someone should have to provide something due.

culpable for

This option means deserving blame for something.

blameworthy for

This option refers to deserving blame.

subject to blame for

This alternative suggests that one is prone to be blamed.

called to account for

This alternative suggests the action of making to give an explanation.

FAQs

What does "held accountable for" mean?

To be "held accountable for" something means to be considered responsible for it and to be subject to consequences if things go wrong. It implies an obligation to explain and justify actions or outcomes.

How can I use "held accountable for" in a sentence?

You can use "held accountable for" to indicate that someone is responsible for their actions, for example: "The manager was "held responsible for" the team's performance".

What are some alternatives to "held accountable for"?

Some alternatives to "held accountable for" include "held responsible for", "held liable for", or "answerable for", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is there a difference between "held accountable for" and ""held responsible for""?

While similar, "held accountable for" often implies that there will be specific consequences for failing to meet expectations, while ""held responsible for"" can be a more general statement of duty or obligation.