largely responsible for

USAGE SUMMARY

"largely responsible for" is an often-used phrase in written English.
It is typically used when referring to someone or something as being mostly responsible for cause or effect. For example: "The pressure caused by the large customer demand was largely responsible for the company's financial difficulties."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

He was largely responsible for founding the religious right.

The New Yorker

The Republicans in Congress are largely responsible for this.

The New Yorker

Alcoholism was largely responsible for men's catastrophic decline.

The New York Times

The Internet is largely responsible for changing those expectations.

The New York Times - Tech

The recent scandals are largely responsible for that.

The New York Times

He said she was largely responsible for selecting him.

The New York Times

Exports were largely responsible for the slight increase.

The New York Times

ESPN was largely responsible for the climb in net income.

The New York Times

That suggests better reporting is largely responsible for the increase.

The New York Times

Marine scientists say people are largely responsible for its decline.

The Economist

Gill cilia are largely responsible for creating these water currents.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid overusing the phrase in close proximity within your writing. While common, varying your language can improve readability and prevent your writing from sounding repetitive. Consider alternatives like "primarily accountable for" or "a major contributing factor to".

Common error

A common mistake is to use "largely responsible for" when the subject only played a minor role. Ensure that the subject truly accounts for a substantial portion of the outcome to avoid misleading the reader.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "largely responsible for" functions as a predicative adjective phrase. It modifies a noun or pronoun to indicate that the subject has a significant degree of accountability or influence. As Ludwig AI suggests, the phrase is commonly used to describe the primary cause or driver behind an event or situation.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "largely responsible for" is a very common phrase used to attribute significant causation or influence. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and frequently appears in news, media, and scientific writing. While versatile, remember to use it when the subject truly bears a substantial degree of responsibility and to vary your language to avoid repetition. Alternatives like "primarily accountable for" or "a major contributing factor to" can provide nuance. Understanding these nuances ensures clear and impactful writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

mostly responsible for

Replaces "largely" with "mostly", indicating the greatest part of the responsibility.

primarily accountable for

Replaces "responsible" with "accountable" and "largely" with "primarily", emphasizing direct responsibility.

largely accountable for

Uses "accountable" instead of "responsible", implying a duty to answer for the outcome.

played a key role in

Focuses on the importance of the role played in an event or outcome.

significantly contributed to

Emphasizes the substantial contribution made to a particular result.

instrumental in causing

Highlights the role of being a key instrument or factor in bringing about a result.

a major contributing factor to

Identifies the subject as one of several factors, but a significant one.

greatly influenced

Highlights the extent of influence exerted on something.

mainly to blame for

Shifts the focus to blame or fault, suggesting a negative outcome.

chiefly liable for

More formal and legalistic, implying legal responsibility.

FAQs

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

Use "largely responsible for" to indicate that someone or something is the main cause or influence behind a particular outcome. For example, "The new policy was "largely responsible for" the company's increased profits."

What are some alternatives to "largely responsible for"?

You can use alternatives like "primarily accountable for", "mainly to blame for", or "instrumental in causing" depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "largely responsible for" in formal writing?

Yes, "largely responsible for" is suitable for formal writing, including academic papers, reports, and business communications. It is a clear and professional way to express significant causation or influence. However, in legal contexts, consider more precise terms like "chiefly liable for".

What's the difference between "largely responsible for" and "partly responsible for"?

"Largely responsible for" indicates a major portion of the responsibility, while "partly responsible for" suggests only a minor or partial contribution. Choose the phrase that accurately reflects the degree of influence or causation.