pass on responsibility

USAGE SUMMARY

"pass on responsibility" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that one person or party is transferring responsibility for a task or duty to another person or party. For example: "The supervisor decided to pass on responsibility for the project to one of the more experienced team members."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

Why is the Palestinian Authority leadership continually given a pass on responsibility?

The New York Times

An unhealthy deference to power is taught from an early age, as is a deep reluctance to pass on responsibility downward.

The New York Times

"I was handicapped by lack of knowledge of both foreign and domestic affairs — due principally to Mr. Roosevelt's inability to pass on responsibility," Truman wrote in his diary.

The New Yorker

Instead there was a tone that was belligerent and challenging, bordering on arrogant, and inappropriate in the circumstances, an indecent haste to pass on responsibility.

The Guardian - Sport

To achieve fault tolerance for a hierarchical control architecture, a combination of both options appears to be advisable: on each individual level of the hierarchy, the controller may compensate the fault as far as possible, and then pass on responsibility to the next upper level.

IFAC-PapersOnLine

But what the bill also does, by implication, is pass on responsibility for American unpreparedness at Pearl Harbor to the high command in Washington at the time -- the most prominent of whom were President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Gen. George C. Marshall.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

"St John's Church acted properly in passing on responsibility for maintenance of the graveyard in 2011/12, but the transfer process has taken longer than usual.

BBC

In a continued effort to pass on any responsibility for the largest data breach in American history, Equifax's recently departed CEO is blaming it all on a single person who failed to deploy a patch.

TechCrunch

The providers were united in their opinion that rather than making government health staff and facilities accountable for maternal health services, the CY scheme 'tends to pass on this responsibility to the private sector'.

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

Meanwhile, police departments are dilapidated, dispirited, corrupt and underfunded as state and national politicians pass on security responsibilities on the armed forces.

The Guardian

Employers are eager to try a defined contribution approach, much like the 401(k) retirement plan, that would pass on the responsibilities of meeting rising health care costs to the employees.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "pass on responsibility", ensure that the recipient is clearly informed and equipped to handle the new task or duty. Provide adequate resources and support to facilitate a smooth transition.

Common error

Don't assume the recipient automatically accepts the transferred responsibility. Confirm their willingness and capacity to take it on. If not, explore other ways to assign the task.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "pass on responsibility" functions as a verb phrase, indicating the act of transferring a duty, task, or obligation from one party to another. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a correct and usable expression.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

37%

Formal & Business

13%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "pass on responsibility" is a grammatically sound and relatively common phrase used to describe the transfer of duties or obligations. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase is appropriate across various contexts, including news, science, and business. While ""delegate responsibility"" and "transfer responsibility" serve as effective alternatives, it's crucial to ensure that the recipient of the responsibility is prepared and willing to accept it. Avoid simply assuming acceptance, and always provide the necessary support for a smooth transition.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Transfer responsibility

Emphasizes the movement of accountability from one entity to another.

Delegate responsibility

Focuses on the act of assigning a task or duty, often within a hierarchical structure.

Assign responsibility

Highlights the act of specifying who is accountable for a particular task.

Shift accountability

Specifically denotes a change in who is held responsible.

Hand over duties

Implies a more formal relinquishing of tasks, often during a transition.

Devolve responsibility

Suggests delegation of power or authority to a lower level.

Offload responsibility

Suggests shedding a burden or obligation, potentially to avoid blame.

Subcontract responsibility

Involves assigning responsibility to an external party or contractor.

Outsource responsibility

Assigns responsibility to an external provider, often for cost or efficiency reasons.

Relinquish control

Indicates surrendering authority or power over a specific area.

FAQs

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

You can use "pass on responsibility" to describe the act of delegating a task or duty, such as: "The manager decided to "delegate responsibility" to a team member".

What is a formal alternative to "pass on responsibility"?

A more formal alternative to "pass on responsibility" could be "transfer responsibility", which implies a formal shift in accountability.

Is it always appropriate to "pass on responsibility"?

No, it's not always appropriate. Consider the skills, workload, and willingness of the person receiving the responsibility. Inappropriately "offloading responsibility" can lead to negative outcomes.

What's the difference between "delegate responsibility" and "pass on responsibility"?

"Delegate responsibility" often implies a hierarchical relationship where a superior assigns a task, while "pass on responsibility" can be a more general transfer, regardless of hierarchy.