partly to blame

USAGE SUMMARY

'partly to blame' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a person or entity that holds some, but not all, of the responsibility for something. For example: "The recent increase in prices can be partly to blame for the drop in sales."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Income is partly to blame.

The Economist

Illness was partly to blame.

The New Yorker

Politics is partly to blame.

The Economist

Ignorance is partly to blame.

The Economist

Alcohol is partly to blame.

The Economist

The administration is partly to blame.

The New York Times

Huge distances are partly to blame.

The Economist

Geographical variation is partly to blame.

The Economist

Higher world prices are partly to blame.

The Economist

Slow sales are partly to blame.

The Economist

For that they are partly to blame.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "partly to blame", ensure that the sentence structure clearly identifies all contributing factors to provide a balanced perspective.

Common error

Avoid using "partly to blame" when the subject is overwhelmingly responsible. Using it in such cases can downplay their role and mislead the audience. Instead, opt for stronger terms like "primarily responsible" or "largely to blame".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "partly to blame" functions as an adjectival phrase that modifies a noun or pronoun, assigning a portion of responsibility or fault. Ludwig confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

93%

Formal & Business

3%

Science

2%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "partly to blame" is used to assign partial responsibility for an unfavorable situation. As verified by Ludwig, it is grammatically correct and widely applicable. It appears most frequently in news and media contexts, maintaining a neutral tone, and is useful for expressing that responsibility is shared among multiple factors. Alternative expressions include "partially responsible" and "contributed to the problem". Using "partly to blame" accurately ensures a balanced representation of accountability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

partially at fault

Mirrors "partly to blame" by assigning partial fault or culpability.

partially responsible

Indicates shared responsibility to some extent, similar to "partly to blame".

bears some responsibility

Indicates a level of responsibility but not the entirety.

partly accountable

Emphasizes accountability or responsibility, similar to being "partly to blame".

in part responsible

Emphasizes that responsibility is divided or shared.

shared the responsibility

Highlights shared responsibility, indicating more than one party is at fault.

somewhat responsible

Suggests a limited or partial degree of accountability.

contributed to the problem

Focuses on the contribution to an issue, sharing partial responsibility.

a contributing factor

Identifies something as a cause, though not the sole one.

played a role

Suggests participation or influence in an event or situation.

FAQs

What does it mean to say someone is "partly to blame"?

Saying someone is "partly to blame" indicates they share responsibility for something negative, but they are not solely responsible. Other factors or individuals also contributed.

How can I use "partly to blame" in a sentence?

You can use "partly to blame" to assign partial responsibility. For example: "The project's failure was "partly to blame" on poor planning and insufficient resources."

What are some alternatives to "partly to blame"?

Alternatives to "partly to blame" include "partially responsible", "partly accountable", or "contributed to the problem", depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "partly to blame" instead of "entirely to blame"?

Use "partly to blame" when the subject's actions were a contributing factor but not the only cause. If they bear the main responsibility, "entirely to blame" or "largely to blame" would be more appropriate.