primarily responsible

USAGE SUMMARY

"primarily responsible" is a correct phrase to use in written English.
You can use it whenever you are wanting to emphasize that something or someone is mainly responsible for something. For example: "The manager was primarily responsible for the project's successful completion."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Netanyahu is primarily responsible".

The Guardian

Adults are primarily responsible for actively addressing and preventing bullying.

The New York Times

The person primarily responsible for it was Dr. Carpenter.

The New Yorker

Craig Biggio had been primarily responsible for the Astros' lead.

The New York Times - Sports

Who is primarily responsible for Mrs. X's death?

The New Yorker

Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children.

The Guardian - Opinion

Our research suggests that five factors are primarily responsible.

Harvard Business Review

The person primarily responsible is the Defendant Alfred Rosenberg.

Yale University

The University department is primarily responsible for administering shipping claims.

Stanford University

Bacteria and fungi are primarily responsible for this process.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Species of the genus Centruroides are primarily responsible.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "primarily responsible" when you want to highlight the main entity accountable without completely dismissing the involvement or influence of others.

Common error

Avoid using "primarily responsible" when the subject bears sole responsibility. In such cases, opt for phrases like "solely responsible" or "entirely responsible" to accurately reflect the degree of accountability.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "primarily responsible" functions as an adjectival phrase that modifies a noun, indicating the entity that bears the main responsibility or accountability for something. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically sound and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Science

32%

Academia

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "primarily responsible" is a grammatically correct and versatile phrase used to indicate the main entity accountable for a particular outcome. As Ludwig AI highlights, it's suitable for various contexts, including news, academia, and science. While alternatives like "chiefly accountable" and "mainly in charge" exist, choosing the right phrase depends on the specific nuance you want to convey. Remember to use "primarily responsible" when the subject is the main point of accountability, but other factors or individuals may have also contributed. Avoid using it when the subject bears sole responsibility; in such cases, opt for phrases like "solely responsible".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

chiefly accountable

Replaces "responsible" with "accountable" and "primarily" with "chiefly", emphasizing accountability.

mainly in charge

Substitutes "responsible" with "in charge" and "primarily" with "mainly", focusing on control.

largely liable

Emphasizes legal or moral obligation using "liable" instead of "responsible" and "largely" instead of "primarily".

principally answerable

Uses "answerable" in place of "responsible" and "principally" instead of "primarily", highlighting accountability.

at the forefront

This signifies leading the charge, rather than being accountable.

majorly culpable

Emphasizes fault or blame, using "culpable" instead of "responsible" and "majorly" in place of "primarily".

heavily implicated

Suggests involvement in a negative context, shifting the focus from responsibility to implication.

instrumental in

Focuses on being a key factor or influence, rather than direct responsibility.

a driving force

Highlights the active role in causing or influencing something, differing from simply being responsible.

the main driver

Focuses on being the cause, this differs from being responsible.

FAQs

How can I use "primarily responsible" in a sentence?

You can use "primarily responsible" to indicate that someone or something has the main responsibility for a particular outcome. For example: "The project manager was primarily responsible for the project's success".

What are some alternatives to saying "primarily responsible"?

You can use alternatives like "chiefly accountable", "mainly in charge", or "largely liable" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "primarily responsible for"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct to say "primarily responsible for". The preposition "for" is typically used to indicate what the subject is responsible for.

What's the difference between "primarily responsible" and "solely responsible"?

"Primarily responsible" indicates the main responsibility, while "solely responsible" implies that the subject is the only one responsible, with no other contributing factors or individuals. Thus, "solely responsible" has a higher degree of responsibility than the expression of interest.