lay a responsibility on

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "lay a responsibility on" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the act of assigning or imposing a duty or obligation on someone. Example: "The manager decided to lay a responsibility on the team to complete the project by the end of the month."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

"I lay full responsibility on you of what might happen to me.

The Guardian

Jeffrey T. Atwood, Larchmont, N.Y.: Your column today was amazing, mostly because you managed to lay some responsibility on Alan Greenspan, whose independence gave him the greatest ability and leverage to hold America accountable for its spendthrift behavior.

The New York Times

Mauricio lay a rosary on the table.

The New York Times - Magazine

The cause of the collapse has become a political controversy in Minnesota, where Democrats in the Legislature have tried to lay responsibility on the Republican governor, Tim Pawlenty, who vetoed a 7.5-cent-a-gallon increase in the state's gasoline tax three months before the collapse.

The New York Times

But its insistence that self-help is the best help allows Mr. Cross — now medication free and messianic — to lay responsibility on ourselves.

The New York Times

"We did not consult any other Government in advance," he said, "nor shall we lay responsibility on any other country or Government".

The Guardian

If the situation did deteriorate into violence, the statement warned, Israel would lay sole responsibility for the consequences on the shoulders of Hamas, which had placed Palestinian civilians "on the front lines".

The New York Times

The truth is this government are seeking to lay the responsibility for the deficit on the hardworking families of this nation, the very people who are needed to keep the economy growing.

The Guardian - Money

18 40 However, patients did not lay all responsibility for poor communication on healthcare professionals.

BMJ Open

They have also tried to lay responsibility for the collapse on Mr. Pawlenty, another Republican, because he vetoed a tax increase shortly before the collapse.

The New York Times

"I will not be able to stop my people," he said, "and I lay all responsibility for the expected consequences on the Witnesses".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "lay a responsibility on", ensure the context clearly indicates who is assigning the responsibility and to whom it is being assigned. This avoids ambiguity and ensures clarity in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "lay a responsibility on" when the responsibility arises naturally from a situation or position, rather than being actively assigned by someone. In such cases, use phrases like "the responsibility lies with" or "responsibility rests on" to more accurately reflect the passive nature of the obligation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lay a responsibility on" functions as a verb phrase used to describe the act of assigning or imposing a specific duty, obligation, or accountability upon someone. Ludwig AI states that it is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Missing

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "lay a responsibility on" is grammatically correct and expresses the act of assigning or imposing a duty. While Ludwig AI states its correctness, it is not very common. It's useful across multiple domains, but without concrete examples its contexts of use cannot be defined with certainty. When writing, be mindful of the agency involved, ensuring the context appropriately reflects an active assignment of responsibility rather than an inherent obligation. Consider similar phrases like "assign responsibility to" or "delegate responsibility to" for alternative expressions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

assign responsibility to

Uses a more direct verb "assign" instead of the more figurative "lay", resulting in a slightly more formal tone.

place the onus on

Replaces "responsibility" with "onus", implying a burden or obligation is being assigned.

delegate responsibility to

Specifically suggests the act of entrusting someone with a duty, which is more precise than simply assigning.

entrust with the responsibility

Highlights the aspect of trust and confidence in the person receiving the responsibility.

hold accountable for

Focuses on the expectation of answerability and potential consequences for not fulfilling the responsibility.

impute responsibility to

Suggests assigning blame or causation, often in a negative context.

charge with the duty of

Implies a formal assignment of a specific task or obligation.

saddle with responsibility

Conveys a sense of burden or imposition, often unwanted.

burden with the task of

Emphasizes the onerous nature of the task being assigned.

make answerable for

Stresses the expectation of a response or justification for actions.

FAQs

How can I use "lay a responsibility on" in a sentence?

You can use "lay a responsibility on" to indicate that someone is assigning a duty or obligation to someone else. For example: "The manager decided to "assign responsibility to" the team to complete the project by the end of the month".

What's a more formal alternative to "lay a responsibility on"?

A more formal alternative to "lay a responsibility on" is to "delegate responsibility to". This phrase emphasizes the act of entrusting someone with a duty.

Is it better to say "lay a responsibility on" or "lies a responsibility on"?

The correct phrase is "lay a responsibility on". The verb "lay" means to place or impose something, whereas "lie" means to be in a horizontal position. Thus, using "lay" is correct when assigning a responsibility.

How does "lay a responsibility on" differ from "the responsibility lies with"?

"Lay a responsibility on" indicates an active assignment of duty, while "the responsibility "lies with"" suggests the responsibility naturally falls on someone due to their position or circumstances. The former is an active assignment, the latter a passive state.