onus of responsibility

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "onus of responsibility" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it in formal writing when you would like to emphasize the burden of responsibility placed on a particular person or group. For example: "The onus of responsibility for the project fell upon the marketing team."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

38 human-written examples

This is a classic fellow traveller apology--shifting the onus of responsibility to the other side.

Princeton University

with the onus of responsibility for safety entirely on the driver.

The New York Times

The major onus of responsibility to eliminate this threat rests on the government of Pakistan".

The New York Times

In classical music the onus of responsibility has been shifted from creator to receptor.

The New York Times - Arts

This is not to move the onus of responsibility away from doctors.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Guided more by anger than by logic, I decided that if Tapka was closer to Jana then the onus of responsibility would be on her.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

22 human-written examples

The group, which includes shadow culture secretary Tom Watson and former Tory minister John Hayes, states that the current regime in which "the onus of social responsibility remains subject to the self-regulation of the licensee is not working".

The Guardian

And with Cristiano Ronaldo absent because of a hamstring injury, there will be even more onus upon Bale to act as his team's catalyst and shoulder the burden of responsibility.

BBC

Michael was a Brit who had gone through the education system famous for producing leaders of the world, stiff upper lips honed on "the playing fields of Eton," where men learned the onus and responsibility of privilege (colonialism) known as "the white man's burden" to Kipling when Britannia ruled the waves and much of the world.

Huffington Post

Your VCs, advisors and teammates are all there to provide support, but at the end of the day, it's your baby and the onus and responsibility of its care and nurturing falls on your shoulders.

Huffington Post

He avers that people who believe the onus and responsibility of their care rests with the government are victims.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "onus of responsibility", clearly identify who bears the responsibility to avoid ambiguity. For example, "The "onus of responsibility" for ensuring data privacy lies with the IT department."

Common error

Avoid using "onus of responsibility" vaguely. Specify the exact tasks or areas for which someone is responsible. Do not say "The "onus of responsibility" is on them" without clarifying what they are responsible for.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "onus of responsibility" functions as a noun phrase. It identifies and emphasizes who bears the duty or obligation for a particular task, decision, or outcome. Examples provided by Ludwig confirm this usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "onus of responsibility" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to denote the burden or duty of accountability. According to Ludwig, it's considered correct for formal use, effectively emphasizing where the accountability for a task or decision lies. Its prevalence in contexts like News & Media, Science, and Academia signifies its widespread application in assigning and discussing accountability. When employing this phrase, ensure clarity by specifying who or what is accountable. While alternatives such as "burden of responsibility" exist, "onus of responsibility" provides a direct and precise way to assign accountability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

burden of responsibility

Replaces "onus" with "burden", emphasizing the weight or difficulty of the responsibility.

the weight of responsibility

Focuses on the heaviness and seriousness associated with the assigned duties.

the charge of responsibility

Highlights that the responsibility has been officially assigned to someone.

duty of care

Focuses on the legal or ethical obligation to avoid causing harm, implying responsibility.

accountability

Highlights the obligation to answer for the outcomes of actions or decisions.

liability

Emphasizes the legal or financial responsibility for something.

the buck stops here

An idiom indicating ultimate responsibility, often used in leadership contexts.

moral imperative

Focuses on the ethical dimension of the obligation.

the mandate

This refers to the authoritative command or instruction, implying responsibility for its execution.

area of control

Implies responsibility for managing and overseeing specific operations or resources.

FAQs

How to use "onus of responsibility" in a sentence?

Use "onus of responsibility" to indicate where a duty or obligation falls. For example, "The "onus of responsibility" for safety rests with the employer."

What can I say instead of "onus of responsibility"?

You can use alternatives like "burden of responsibility", "duty of care", or "accountability" depending on the specific context.

What's the difference between "onus of responsibility" and "burden of responsibility"?

While similar, "onus of responsibility" emphasizes the duty itself, while "burden of responsibility" highlights the weight or difficulty associated with that duty. They are largely interchangeable.

Is it correct to say "onus is on"?

Yes, "onus is on" is a correct and commonly used construction. For example, "The onus is on the company to prove its product is safe."