primary responsibility

USAGE SUMMARY

'primary responsibility' is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it to refer to the main responsibility that someone or something has. For example: "It is my primary responsibility to make sure the team meets their goals."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

Formal & Business

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Because they're our primary responsibility".

The New York Times - Arts

But the primary responsibility remains calling games.

The New York Times - Sports

Their primary responsibility is teacher/school protection.

The New York Times

The Republicans bear the primary responsibility, though.

The New Yorker

Earlier, the D.E.A. had primary responsibility.

The New York Times

Wasn't protecting Mark's life our primary responsibility?

The New Yorker

Few put primary responsibility on Germany.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Our primary responsibility is to the works of art.

The New York Times - Arts

"Our primary responsibility is to preserve the works of art".

The New York Times

Getting the economics right is a Treasury Secretary's primary responsibility.

The New Yorker

That means Middleton will have primary responsibility for containing Sapp.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When assigning a "primary responsibility", ensure the individual or team has the necessary resources and authority to fulfill the obligation effectively.

Common error

Avoid assigning the same "primary responsibility" to multiple parties, as this can lead to confusion, inefficiency, and a lack of accountability. Clearly define roles to ensure clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "primary responsibility" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as a subject complement or object in a sentence. It identifies the most important duty or obligation associated with a person, role, or entity. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage in varied contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

34%

Academia

22%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

13%

Wiki

6%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "primary responsibility" is a common and grammatically sound way to denote the main duty or obligation of an individual, group, or entity. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's versatile and appropriate for various contexts, from news and media to academic writing. While alternatives like ""main responsibility"" or "key responsibility" exist, "primary responsibility" clearly and effectively communicates the most important task at hand. When using this phrase, ensure that the assigned party has the resources needed to meet that responsibility, and avoid overlapping responsibilities with other parties to maintain clarity and accountability. The sources used in this analysis are of high quality, reinforcing the phrase's reliability and widespread use.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

main responsibility

Replaces "primary" with "main", emphasizing the chief or most important duty.

chief responsibility

Substitutes "primary" with "chief", highlighting the leading or principal duty.

principal responsibility

Uses "principal" instead of "primary", stressing the foremost or dominant aspect of the duty.

key responsibility

Emphasizes that the responsibility is a crucial or essential one.

core responsibility

Focuses on the central or fundamental nature of the responsibility.

fundamental duty

Replaces "responsibility" with "duty", highlighting the obligatory nature of the task.

main obligation

Shifts from "responsibility" to "obligation", stressing a legal or moral requirement.

primary task

Substitutes "responsibility" with "task", focusing on the work or job to be done.

first and foremost responsibility

Adds emphasis by stating that the responsibility is the most important above all others.

overriding concern

Expresses the responsibility as a prevailing or dominant concern.

FAQs

How can I use the phrase "primary responsibility" in a sentence?

You can use "primary responsibility" to indicate the main duty or obligation of someone or something. For example, "The teacher's "main responsibility" is to educate the students."

What are some alternatives to "primary responsibility"?

Some alternatives include "chief responsibility", ""main responsibility"", or "key responsibility", depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "primary responsibility" or "main responsibility"?

Both "primary responsibility" and ""main responsibility"" are acceptable and often interchangeable. "Primary" suggests the initial or most important responsibility, while "main" simply indicates the most significant one.

What's the difference between "responsibility" and "duty"?

"Responsibility" refers to a task or obligation that one is expected to perform, while "duty" often implies a moral or legal obligation. Thus, a "fundamental duty" might emphasize a required action more strongly than a "primary responsibility".