make answerable for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "make answerable for" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing accountability or responsibility for a particular action or outcome. Example: "The manager will make the team members answerable for their project deadlines."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

Despite its claims that it "does not torture," this is an administration drenched in torture, which must one day be made answerable for its crimes.

Huffington Post

One idea was that members of parliament should be made answerable to "citizens' juries".

The Economist

In this way, the vast power that corporations enjoy was made answerable to legal and political institutions.

Columbia University

The partisanship by that same party displayed in confirmation hearings for Clarence Thomas and Robert Bork were as nasty or nastier as any election campaign.Since sovereignty resides in the American people, then judges, especially of those who presume to exercise political power, should be made answerable to the people whom they wish to rule.Ronald J. Buttarazzi Fairport, New York.

The Economist

The accusation against the once untouchable military leadership intensified a high-stakes campaign under President Abdurrahman Wahid to reduce the political power of the armed forces and to make it answerable for its abuses.

The New York Times

The Sultan acknowledged the fact that the church had proved to be the most enduring element in the Byzantine world, and he gave the Patriarch of Constantinople an unprecedented measure of temporal authority by making him answerable for all Christians living under Ottoman rule.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Their data, plus active involvement from citizens and journalists, can help to make aid flows more visible, the first step towards making aid agencies answerable for their decisions.

The Guardian

Biddle's aim is to make him answerable, if only posthumously, for what he did.

The New York Times - Books

The failure of the Senate to resolve this issue in an appropriate manner will make them answerable to the electorate".

The New York Times

In its first constitutional stage from the late 17th to the mid-19th century, liberalism was about how to make power answerable yet effective.

The Economist

The Home Office said the new role would provide "stronger and more transparent accountability" to the police and make forces answerable to the communities they serve.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "make answerable for", ensure that the context clearly indicates who is assigning the responsibility and to whom. Clarity is key to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "make answerable for" interchangeably with "is answerable for" without adjusting the sentence structure. "Make answerable for" implies creating accountability, whereas "is answerable for" describes an existing state of accountability.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "make answerable for" functions as a verb phrase indicating the act of assigning or imposing accountability on someone or something. It signifies that an entity is being held responsible for certain actions or outcomes. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Academia

25%

Encyclopedias

15%

Less common in

Science

10%

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "make answerable for" is a grammatically sound and usable verb phrase that serves to assign accountability. While Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, its usage is relatively rare, mainly appearing in news, academic, and encyclopedic contexts. When employing this phrase, clarity is paramount to specify who is assigning responsibility and to whom. Alternatives such as "hold accountable for" or "assign responsibility for" may provide a slightly more common and direct approach depending on the context. Remember that "make answerable for" is about creating the state of accountability, distinct from "is answerable for", which describes an existing state.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Hold accountable for

Directly implies assigning responsibility and expecting to provide justification.

Hold responsible for

Similar to 'hold accountable' but slightly less formal.

Assign responsibility for

A more direct way of saying someone is in charge.

Make responsible for

States the act of creating responsibility

Charge with responsibility for

Highlights the duty and burden given to someone

Impose accountability on

Focuses on the act of placing a burden of responsibility.

Call to account for

Similar to 'bring to account' but implies a more immediate demand.

Render liable for

Formal and legalistic way to describe making someone legally responsible.

Bring to account for

Emphasizes a process of demanding an explanation.

Pin the blame on

More colloquial, implies assigning blame, possibly unfairly.

FAQs

How can I use "make answerable for" in a sentence?

You can use "make answerable for" to indicate that someone is being held accountable for their actions. For example, "The new regulations will make companies "accountable for" environmental damage."

What phrases are similar to "make answerable for"?

Similar phrases include "hold responsible", "hold "accountable for"", "bring to account", and "assign responsibility".

Is it better to use "make answerable for" or "hold accountable for"?

Both phrases are acceptable. "Hold "accountable for"" is perhaps more common in contemporary usage, but "make answerable for" is grammatically correct and understandable.

What's the difference between "make answerable for" and "be answerable for"?

"Make answerable for" implies an action of assigning responsibility, while "be answerable for" describes a state of already being responsible. For example, a company can be "made answerable for" its actions, and then it will "be answerable for" future compliance.