holds accountable

USAGE SUMMARY

'holds accountable' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want someone to take responsibility for something they did wrong. For example, "The government should hold itself accountable for the recent environmental disasters."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

A major target of Highfields Capital's ire is CoreLogic's chief executive, Anand K. Nallathambi, whom the hedge fund holds accountable for many of the company's problems.

The New York Times

"This settlement holds accountable those responsible for contaminating certain properties and ensures they help transform these communities by supporting the necessary cleanup," Gary G. Grindler, acting deputy attorney general, said in a statement.

The New York Times

News reporting that holds accountable those with power and influence has been a vital part of American democratic life, especially in places with daily newspapers profitable enough, and with owners public-spirited enough, to maintain substantial reporting staffs.

The Guardian - Opinion

"But is ultimately not a great deal more profound than the celebrity culture it holds accountable for these wanton waifs".

BBC

What makes this country great is that it holds accountable those who break its laws.

Huffington Post

U.S. must call for an international investigation that holds accountable all responsible not just Crown Prince's fall guys.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

"Nobody is being held accountable".

The New York Times

Has anyone been held accountable?

The New York Times

Violators will be held accountable.

Independent

Are they held accountable?

The New York Times - Sports

Governments being held accountable.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "holds accountable" when you want to emphasize the act of assigning responsibility for actions or outcomes, especially when there's an expectation of consequences or justification.

Common error

Avoid using "holds accountable" in passive constructions where the actor is unclear. Ensure the sentence clearly indicates who is holding whom accountable to avoid ambiguity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "holds accountable" functions as a verb phrase. Ludwig AI confirms that it is grammatically correct and usable. It is used to express the act of assigning responsibility and expecting consequences for one's actions.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Formal & Business

10%

Science

10%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "holds accountable" is a grammatically sound verb phrase used to assign responsibility and anticipate consequences. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. It commonly appears in news and media contexts, with a neutral register, indicating its widespread application in diverse communication settings. Alternatives include "assigns responsibility" and "deems responsible". When employing this phrase, ensure clarity in who is holding whom accountable to prevent ambiguity. The phrase appears with Uncommon frequency and the top authoritative sources include The New York Times and The Guardian.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

attributes accountability to

Similar in meaning, but more formal and explicitly states the attribution of accountability.

assigns responsibility

Uses a more direct and neutral term, focusing on the act of assigning responsibility without necessarily implying blame.

deems responsible

Changes the verb to "deems", implying a judgement or opinion leading to the assignment of responsibility.

finds culpable

Replaces "holds accountable" with "finds culpable", suggesting a formal finding of guilt or blameworthiness.

regards as answerable

Changes the focus to being answerable, emphasizing the obligation to explain or justify actions.

places the blame on

Emphasizes the act of blaming someone for something.

considers liable

Indicates that someone is legally responsible for something.

attributes fault to

A more formal alternative that indicates the act of assigning fault or error.

implicates in

Suggests that someone is involved in something, often something negative or illegal.

points the finger at

A more informal and accusatory way of assigning blame.

FAQs

How to use "holds accountable" in a sentence?

The phrase "holds accountable" is used to indicate that someone is responsible for their actions and will face consequences if they fail to meet expectations. For example, "The board of directors "holds accountable" the CEO for the company's financial performance".

What can I say instead of "holds accountable"?

You can use alternatives like "assigns responsibility", "deems responsible", or "finds culpable" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "is held accountable"?

Yes, "is held accountable" is the passive form of "holds accountable" and is grammatically correct. For example, "The employee "is held accountable" for following company policies".

What is the difference between "holds accountable" and "holds responsible"?

While similar, "holds accountable" often implies an expectation of consequences or a formal process of assigning responsibility, whereas "holds responsible" simply means that someone is considered the cause or origin of something.