primarily responsible for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "primarily responsible for" is correct and can be used in written English.
Generally it is used to speak about things that one is mainly responsible for. For example, "I am primarily responsible for planning the office holiday party."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

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

Bacteria and fungi are primarily responsible for this process.

Encyclopedia Britannica

They are primarily responsible for the team's 21-game winning streak over two years.

The New York Times - Magazine

Quickly, Andersen dismissed the partner, David Duncan, who was primarily responsible for the Enron account.

The New York Times

You also avoid the expense of making government inspectors primarily responsible for policing this social ill.

The Guardian - Tech

Clearly, Ray created the firm and the culture, so he's primarily responsible for its success.

The New Yorker

To repeat, Comey isn't entirely, or perhaps even primarily, responsible for this situation.

The New Yorker

New York will become a representative office, primarily responsible for North America, Vivendi said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "primarily responsible for", ensure that the context clearly indicates the specific area or task where the responsibility lies. This avoids ambiguity and clarifies expectations.

Common error

Avoid using "primarily responsible for" when the person or entity shares responsibility equally with others. Instead, consider using phrases like "contributed to" or "assisted with" to more accurately reflect the shared nature of the responsibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "primarily responsible for" functions as an adjective phrase that modifies a noun or pronoun, indicating the main entity accountable for a specific task or outcome. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and widely applicable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Science

34%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "primarily responsible for" is a versatile phrase used to assign main accountability for a task or outcome. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. While alternatives exist, "primarily responsible for" provides a clear and direct way to define roles and expectations. It's frequently used in news, science and business contexts. When using the phrase, ensure clarity by specifying the precise area of responsibility to avoid any ambiguity. Remember to avoid overstating responsibility when tasks are shared.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

chiefly accountable for

Replaces "primarily responsible" with "chiefly accountable", highlighting the aspect of accountability.

mainly in charge of

Substitutes "primarily responsible" with "mainly in charge", focusing on the aspect of being in control.

the principal agent of

Replaces "primarily responsible" with "principal agent", denoting a formal role.

largely to blame for

Replaces "primarily responsible" with "largely to blame", shifting the focus to culpability.

instrumental in

Uses "instrumental in" to convey a sense of crucial involvement and influence.

the leading cause of

Emphasizes causality by using "the leading cause of" instead of assigning responsibility.

the main driver behind

Focuses on the motivational aspect, suggesting that something is "the main driver behind".

at the forefront of

Indicates a leading position rather than direct responsibility, using "at the forefront of".

key contributor to

Highlights the contribution aspect, suggesting the entity is a "key contributor".

major player in

Suggests significant involvement without explicitly stating responsibility, using "major player".

FAQs

How do I use "primarily responsible for" in a sentence?

Use "primarily responsible for" to indicate the main person or entity accountable for a specific task or outcome. For example, "The project manager is primarily responsible for ensuring the project stays on schedule."

What are some alternatives to "primarily responsible for"?

You can use alternatives like "chiefly accountable for", "mainly in charge of", or "instrumental in depending on the specific context".

Is it correct to say "primarily responsible of" instead of "primarily responsible for"?

No, the correct preposition to use with "primarily responsible" is "for". "Primarily responsible of" is grammatically incorrect.

What does it mean to be "primarily responsible for" something?

To be "primarily responsible for" something means you are the main person or entity that is expected to handle it, ensure it is done correctly, and be accountable for the outcome.