owe responsibility

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "owe responsibility" is not correct in standard written English.
It is not commonly used, and the intended meaning may be unclear without additional context. Example: "We owe responsibility to our community to act ethically and sustainably."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

Nor, notoriously, does Uber consider its drivers to be employees to whom they would owe responsibilities: they are instead "independent contractors".

The Guardian - Books

The only reference to the concept of "stakeholding" is when the document describes its "true meaning" as "where everyone has a stake in society and owes responsibilities to it".

The Economist

"The N.F.L. has its heroes on the field every week and we owe a responsibility to the fans in deed and in conduct.

The New York Times - Sports

"It appears that the process of deprivation of citizenship made it easier for the US to then designate Mr Sakr as an enemy combatant, to whom the UK owes no responsibility whatsoever," Saghir Hussain said.

Independent

It is, on one level, an infuriating defense because it suggests that firms like Goldman and JPMorgan owe no fiduciary responsibility to their customers.

The New York Times

In a statement, the South Carolina Republican trashed this partial disclosure as a handful of "self-selected emails" that was "reviewed and released" by lawyers who owe a "fiduciary responsibility to Secretary Clinton".

The Guardian

"I owe them a responsibility to do my job the best I can".

BBC

In other words, the engineering profession owes additional responsibilities to society beyond the collective of its membership.

Biomedical Ethics for Engineers Ethics and Decision Making in Biomedical and Biosystem Engineering

Consequently, they owe a duty of care to their own citizens for fiscal responsibility.

Huffington Post

Coulter's extreme libertarianism, however, should not be confused with traditional conservatism, the ethic that teaches, "Every right is married to a duty, every freedom owes a corresponding responsibility," as conservative theorist Russell Kirk wrote.

Huffington Post

But do Lupa and his crew owe any debt of responsibility to the people they're representing?

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing legal or ethical duties, specify to whom or what the responsibility is owed. For instance, clarify if the responsibility is owed to a community, an organization, or a set of principles.

Common error

Avoid using "owe responsibility" as it suggests a debt of responsibility, which can be unclear. Instead, directly state the responsibility using phrases like "have a responsibility" or "are responsible for" to ensure clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "owe responsibility" functions as a verb phrase where "owe" implies a debt or obligation regarding a specific duty. However, Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is not correct in standard written English, suggesting that it's better to use alternatives for improved clarity.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "owe responsibility" appears in various sources, it's not considered standard English. As Ludwig AI points out, it's often better to use alternatives such as "have a responsibility" or "bear responsibility" for clearer and more effective communication. These alternatives directly express accountability without implying a debt. The use of clearer alternatives is always preferable in order to avoid confusion.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

bear responsibility

Replaces "owe" with "bear", focusing on the act of carrying or accepting responsibility.

have a responsibility

Emphasizes possession of responsibility rather than obligation.

are responsible for

Focuses on the state of being accountable.

are duty-bound to

Highlights a sense of moral or legal obligation.

have an obligation

Replaces "responsibility" with the synonymous "obligation".

are accountable for

Stresses the need to answer for one's actions or decisions.

are liable for

Implies legal or financial accountability.

should take responsibility

Suggests a course of action, urging someone to accept responsibility.

must answer for

Emphasizes the need to explain or justify one's actions.

are charged with

Highlights the assignment of responsibility or duty.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to saying "owe responsibility"?

Instead of "owe responsibility", you can use alternatives like "bear responsibility", "have a responsibility", or "are responsible for" depending on the specific context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "owe responsibility"?

While the phrase "owe responsibility" appears in some contexts, it's not considered standard English. It's clearer to use phrases like "have a responsibility" or "bear responsibility".

How can I use "have a responsibility" in a sentence?

You can use "have a responsibility" to indicate that someone is accountable for something. For example, "As citizens, we have a responsibility to vote".

What's the difference between "owe responsibility" and "are responsible for"?

"Owe responsibility" isn't a standard phrase. It's more common and clearer to say "are responsible for" to directly state that someone is accountable for something.