hold liable

USAGE SUMMARY

"hold liable" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It means to hold someone responsible or accountable for something. You can use it whenever you are talking about assigning blame or responsibility for a certain action or outcome. For example: - The company was held liable for the environmental damage caused by their illegal dumping. - The court held the defendant liable for the damages caused in the car accident. - As the owner of the property, you may be held liable for any injuries that occur on your premises.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

it is not unfair to hold liable the official who knows or should know he is acting outside the law, and..

Cornell University

The way to discourage irresponsible lending is to hold liable both the mortgage originators and the companies to which they sell their sometimes illegal loans.

The New York Times

But Arlen Specter, a Democrat senator, has introduced a bill that would hold liable those companies that knowingly helped another business commit fraud, as well as companies that were reckless in not knowing they had a hand in the fraud.

The Economist

These allow for direct links between computer users, making it more difficult to establish who is doing the downloading and doing away with the obvious party to hold liable -- the central server.

The New York Times

A leading treatise concerning products liability law states that "a product which has caused injury cannot be classified as a nuisance to hold liable the manufacturer or seller for the product's injurious effects * * *." 2 American Law of Products Liability § 27:6 at 11 (3d 2006).

Harvard University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Someone needs to be held liable".

The New York Times

No person was held liable for Merck's conduct.

The New York Times

The advisory firm was held liable for the violations.

The New York Times

It should not be held liable for its own misfortune".

The New York Times

A blogger can be held liable for any false claims.

The Guardian - Opinion

Should identity management be regulated and who should be held liable and for what?

Computer Law & Security Review

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "hold liable" when you want to emphasize the act of assigning responsibility, especially in legal or formal contexts. It clearly communicates the idea of making someone accountable for their actions or the consequences thereof.

Common error

Avoid using "hold liable" in casual conversations or informal writing. Opt for alternatives like "blame" or "hold accountable" for a more natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "hold liable" is as a verb phrase. It signifies the act of assigning responsibility or accountability to someone for something, typically in a legal or formal context. Ludwig confirms this usage with various examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

40%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Science

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "hold liable" is a grammatically correct verb phrase used to assign responsibility, especially in legal or formal contexts. Ludwig AI confirms this with its examples, indicating a neutral to formal register. While "hold liable" isn't exceptionally common, alternatives like "hold accountable" or "assign responsibility" may be appropriate in some situations. Remember to use it judiciously in informal contexts, opting for simpler alternatives when the situation calls for it.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Hold accountable

Focuses more on the act of making someone answerable for their actions, implying a process of justification.

Hold to account

Emphasizes making someone explain their actions and face consequences.

Deem responsible

Similar to 'hold liable' but emphasizes a formal judgment or decision.

Assign responsibility

Emphasizes the act of allocating a duty or obligation to someone.

Charge with responsibility

Focuses on formally accusing someone of a duty or obligation.

Impose liability

Highlights the legal aspect of making someone responsible for damages or debts.

Find at fault

Highlights identifying the party that caused a problem or error.

Render liable

Similar to impose liability but focuses on the act of making someone legally responsible.

Pin the blame

More informal and focuses on attributing fault for a negative outcome.

Attribute culpability

Highlights assigning moral blame or fault for wrongdoing.

FAQs

How to use "hold liable" in a sentence?

You can use "hold liable" to indicate that someone is responsible for something. For example, "The company was held liable for the accident".

What can I say instead of "hold liable"?

You can use alternatives like "hold accountable", "assign responsibility", or "deem responsible" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "hold liable" or "held liable"?

"Hold liable" is the infinitive form, while "held liable" is the past participle. Use "hold liable" in future or conditional statements and "held liable" when describing a past event.

What's the difference between "hold liable" and "hold responsible"?

While similar, "hold liable" often implies a legal or formal context where someone is legally responsible for damages or wrongdoing. "Hold responsible" can be used more broadly to indicate general accountability.