holds responsible

USAGE SUMMARY

"holds responsible" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It means to attribute blame or responsibility to someone for something. Example: The company holds responsible only those employees who were directly involved in the embezzlement scandal, while the others are deemed innocent.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Even then, it is unlikely that the man he holds responsible will ever be charged.

The New York Times

It also incited hatred towards the left-liberal elites it holds responsible for the Willkommenskultur.

The Guardian - Opinion

Connecticut's attorney general has sued 92 different parties he holds responsible, most out of state.

The New York Times

His grief is exacerbated by the man he holds responsible for his mother's death: his father, Ephraim (Brian Dennehy).

The New Yorker

And, like them, he is blunt about whom he holds responsible for past stagnation: hidebound bureaucrats, central bankers, ruling-party elders and other keepers of the status quo.

The New York Times

Israel has not taken responsibility for Mr. Badran's death, but last week reaffirmed a policy of strikes on those it holds responsible for attacks against Israelis.

The New York Times

The rise to power of Gen. Pervez Musharraf, the army chief whom India holds responsible for Pakistan's ill-advised summer adventure, has driven the two countries further apart.

The New York Times

Aware of its strategic importance, Pakistan has been in no hurry to accede to India's demands to prosecute those it holds responsible for the Mumbai massacre.

The New York Times

The person whom Mildred holds responsible — not for the crime but for failing to solve it — is Willoughby (Woody Harrelson), the local sheriff.

The New Yorker

Eben's grief is exacerbated by the man he holds responsible for his mother's death: his father, Ephraim Brian Dennehyy), who treated her pretty much like chattel.

The New Yorker

Senior Israeli officials have acknowledged a new tactic of hunting down and killing individual Palestinian militants whom Israel holds responsible for planning attacks on or attacking its citizens.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "holds responsible", clearly state the action or event for which the person or entity is being held accountable. For example, 'The board holds the CEO responsible for the company's financial losses'.

Common error

Avoid using "holds responsible" without specific evidence or justification. Vague accusations can undermine your credibility and lead to misunderstandings. Instead of saying 'They hold him responsible', clarify 'They hold him responsible for the data breach due to his negligence'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "holds responsible" functions as a verb phrase that ascribes culpability or accountability to someone for a specific action or outcome. Ludwig confirms this is a correct English phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "holds responsible" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed verb phrase utilized to assign accountability for specific actions or outcomes, as confirmed by Ludwig. Primarily appearing in News & Media, this phrase is most suitable for neutral registers. When using "holds responsible", remember to be specific about the action for which someone is being held accountable to avoid overly broad accusations. The phrase can be replaced by alternatives like "blames" or "deems accountable" for similar meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

blames

Directly assigns fault or culpability.

attributes fault to

More formal way of assigning blame.

deems accountable

Emphasizes the obligation to answer for one's actions.

considers liable

Legalistic term for being legally responsible.

finds culpable

Suggests a formal finding of guilt.

points the finger at

Idiomatic expression for accusing someone.

lays the blame on

Places the responsibility directly on someone.

ascribes responsibility to

A more formal way of saying holds accountable.

regards as the cause

Focuses on the causal relationship rather than blame.

pinpoints as the origin

Identifies the source of a problem or issue.

FAQs

How to use "holds responsible" in a sentence?

You can use "holds responsible" to indicate that someone attributes blame or accountability to a person or entity for a specific action or outcome. For example, "The manager holds the team responsible for the project's failure".

What can I say instead of "holds responsible"?

You can use alternatives like "blames", "attributes fault to", or "deems accountable" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "holds responsible" or "is responsible"?

"Holds responsible" implies an action of assigning blame, while "is responsible" simply states that someone has accountability. The best choice depends on whether you want to emphasize the act of assigning blame or just the state of being accountable.

What's the difference between "holds responsible" and "holds accountable"?

While similar, "holds responsible" often focuses on attributing blame for a negative outcome, while "holds accountable" emphasizes the expectation that someone will answer for their actions and be subject to consequences.