hold responsible for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "hold responsible for" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when assigning blame or accountability to someone for a particular action or outcome. Example: "The committee decided to hold the manager responsible for the project's failure."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But they remain angry at the regulators, whom they hold responsible for the outcome.

The New York Times

"Who do you hold responsible for the attack on you?" I asked.

The New Yorker

Looking for someone specific to hold responsible for the improbable rise of Donald Trump?

The Washington Post

As intraspecific competition was consistently more important than interspecific competition, resource complementarity could be hold responsible for intercrop advantages.

Field Crops Research

It so happens that Jean-Jacques Rousseau, the thinker some still hold responsible for the Revolution, loved parades.

The New York Times

They also struck a police headquarters in Gaza and knocked out the transmitter for a Palestinian Authority radio station that the Israelis hold responsible for "inciting" Palestinian violence.

The New York Times

Fernandinho Beira-Mar, a drug-trafficker whom the authorities hold responsible for recent bomb attacks in Rio, was moved there a fortnight before Judge Dias's murder.

The Economist

But the nature of government opposition will be shaped by whom people hold responsible for the situation and what options they understand.

The Guardian - Opinion

Others refused to participate in a process backed by politicians they hold responsible for a several-years-long political and financial crisis that has crippled the region.

The Washington Post

What's less clear is who the protesters hold responsible for this inequality or which policies they might embrace to remedy it.

The Washington Post

Some Syriza members are accusing him of capitulating to the E.U., and it is not so surprising that he has chosen to take a few shots at the Germans, whom many Greeks hold responsible for their current woes.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the context and audience when deciding whether to use "hold responsible for" or a more formal or informal alternative. For instance, "hold accountable for" might be better suited in professional settings.

Common error

Avoid using "hold responsible for" without specifying the exact scope of responsibility. Overgeneralizing can lead to unfair blame or create confusion about the extent of one's accountability.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hold responsible for" functions as a verb phrase used to assign blame or accountability to someone or something. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Science

18%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Academia

4%

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "hold responsible for" is a common and grammatically sound way to assign blame or accountability. Ludwig confirms this. It's frequently used in news and media, science, and formal business contexts. While alternatives like ""hold accountable for"" exist, the key is to clearly specify who is being held responsible and for what. Remember, avoid overgeneralizing the scope of responsibility to ensure fairness and accuracy in your communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hold accountable for

Replaces "responsible" with "accountable", emphasizing a formal expectation of justification.

blame for

Focuses directly on assigning culpability or fault.

attribute blame to

Formally assigns blame to someone or something, highlighting causation.

hold liable for

Emphasizes legal or financial responsibility.

impute fault to

More formally assigns fault or responsibility, often in a legal or ethical context.

pin the blame on

Suggests directly and perhaps publicly assigning blame.

lay the blame at the feet of

Idiomatically assigns blame directly to someone.

ascribe responsibility to

Assigns responsibility in a formal or official manner.

hold to account

Focuses on ensuring someone answers for their actions, more general.

consider accountable

Emphasizes the act of regarding someone as answerable for their actions.

FAQs

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

Use "hold responsible for" to assign blame or accountability. For instance, "The manager will be held responsible for the budget overruns."

What phrases can I use instead of "hold responsible for"?

Alternatives include "hold accountable for", "blame for", or "attribute blame to" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "hold accountable for" or "hold responsible for"?

"Hold accountable for" and "hold responsible for" are similar, but "hold accountable for" often implies a more formal expectation of justification or explanation.

What's the difference between "hold responsible for" and "take responsibility for"?

"Hold responsible for" assigns blame to someone, while "take responsibility for" means accepting accountability oneself.