held responsible for

USAGE SUMMARY

"held responsible for" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that someone is being held accountable or blamed for a certain action or event. Example: The CEO of the company was held responsible for the financial mismanagement that led to its downfall.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He was held responsible for it.

The New York Times - Sports

And the government must be held responsible for it.

The Guardian - Opinion

President Bush should be held responsible for Iran's nuclear threat.

The New York Times

Shouldn't people be held responsible for their stupidity and greed?

The New York Times

We can't be held responsible for their behavior".

The New York Times

Individuals would be held responsible for their own behavior.

The New York Times - Magazine

"They must be held responsible for what happened".

The New York Times

Goldman cannot be held responsible for other's bad bets.

The New Yorker

Stalin was held responsible for millions of deaths.

The New York Times

Who should be held responsible for such representations?

The New York Times

Schools would be held responsible for student performance.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair "held responsible for" with specific actions or omissions, avoid vague statements. For example, instead of "He was held responsible", specify "He was held responsible for the budget deficit".

Common error

Avoid using "held responsible for" in overly broad or generalized statements. Be specific about the scope of responsibility to avoid ambiguity and ensure fairness. For example, instead of "The manager was held responsible for everything", specify "The manager was held responsible for project deliverables and team performance".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "held responsible for" functions as a passive construction indicating accountability. As Ludwig AI confirms, it signifies that someone is being deemed answerable or blameworthy for something. It commonly appears in contexts where assigning responsibility is crucial.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "held responsible for" is a very common and grammatically correct expression used to assign accountability or blame. Ludwig AI validates its appropriateness in written English. It appears frequently in news media, science, and formal business contexts. When using this phrase, it's important to be specific about who is assigning the responsibility and for what actions. Alternatives include "accountable for" and "liable for". By following these guidelines, writers can effectively and accurately convey responsibility in their communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

accountable for

Focuses directly on accountability.

liable for

Implies legal responsibility.

blamed for

Indicates attribution of fault or responsibility.

answerable for

Stresses the obligation to explain or justify actions.

culpable for

Highlights guilt or fault in relation to the matter.

responsible for

Shortened version, omitting "held".

ascribable to

Attributes something to a cause or origin.

attributed to

Similar to ascribable, emphasizing causality.

implicated in

Suggests involvement, often in a negative context.

seen as the cause of

More descriptive, focusing on perceived causality.

FAQs

What does "held responsible for" mean?

The phrase "held responsible for" signifies that someone is considered accountable or blameworthy for a particular action, outcome, or situation. It implies that they are expected to answer for it and may face consequences.

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

Use "held responsible for" to indicate accountability. For example, "The company was "held responsible for" the environmental damage caused by the oil spill".

What are some alternatives to "held responsible for"?

You can use alternatives like "accountable for", "liable for", or "blamed for", depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

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

"Responsible for" simply indicates a duty or obligation. "Held responsible for", however, implies that someone is being formally or publicly assigned accountability, often in a situation where there has been a failure or wrongdoing.