primary responsibility for

USAGE SUMMARY

This is a correct phrase that is used in written English.
You can use it to describe the obligations and duties of a certain individual or group of people. For example, "The teachers have the primary responsibility for ensuring that all of their students understand the material."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

That means Middleton will have primary responsibility for containing Sapp.

The New York Times - Sports

Ms. Greenwald had primary responsibility for Disney-licensed products.

The New York Times

Who will have primary responsibility for this child's life?

The New York Times

The Times assumed primary responsibility for selecting an architect.

The New York Times - Arts

D.S.G. has primary responsibility for its final content.

Nature

Our leaders must take primary responsibility for reversing this normalisation.

The Guardian - Opinion

Can management take primary responsibility for such a program?

Harvard Business Review

Primary responsibility for this input lies in the DIG.

Harvard Business Review

JB and EKG had primary responsibility for final content.

Nature

States will have the primary responsibility for reviewing rate increases.

The New York Times

States will have primary responsibility for enforcing the standards.

The New York Times - Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When assigning responsibilities, clearly define what falls under the "primary responsibility for" to avoid confusion and ensure accountability.

Common error

Avoid assigning "primary responsibility for" similar tasks to multiple individuals. This can lead to diffusion of responsibility and hinder effective execution.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "primary responsibility for" functions as a noun phrase modifier, specifying the scope and nature of the responsibility being assigned. Ludwig AI confirms it's grammatical correctness and common usage. For example, "States will have the primary responsibility for reviewing rate increases."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Science

32%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Reference

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "primary responsibility for" is a widely used phrase to assign accountability for a task or duty. It is grammatically sound and appropriate for formal, neutral and professional contexts. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is commonly found in news, scientific, and business publications. When using this phrase, ensure clear definitions to avoid overlapping responsibilities. Alternatives like "main responsibility for" or "chief responsibility for" can be used depending on the desired emphasis. Remember that clarity and precision are key when assigning responsibilities.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

main responsibility for

Replaces "primary" with "main", indicating the chief but not necessarily exclusive responsibility.

chief responsibility for

Substitutes "primary" with "chief", highlighting the leading or most important responsibility.

principal responsibility for

Uses "principal" instead of "primary", emphasizing the foremost or leading responsibility.

foremost responsibility for

Replaces "primary" with "foremost", stressing that the responsibility is at the front or most important.

lead responsibility for

Emphasizes the role of leading or directing the responsibility.

ultimate responsibility for

Shifts the focus to the final accountability, rather than the initial or direct handling.

central responsibility for

Highlights that the responsibility is at the core or center of the matter.

key responsibility for

Indicates that the responsibility is a crucial or essential aspect.

main duty regarding

Uses "duty" instead of responsibility, and "regarding" instead of for, changing both the noun and preposition for a slightly different emphasis.

core obligation for

Emphasizes the fundamental and binding nature of the responsibility as an obligation.

FAQs

How can I use "primary responsibility for" in a sentence?

Use "primary responsibility for" to indicate who is mainly in charge of a task or duty. For example, "The project manager has "primary responsibility for" meeting deadlines."

What is a synonym for "primary responsibility for"?

Alternatives to "primary responsibility for" include "main responsibility for", "chief responsibility for", or "principal responsibility for", each emphasizing the leading role in a duty.

Is it correct to say "have primary responsibility of" instead of "primary responsibility for"?

While "responsibility of" is grammatically correct in some contexts, "primary responsibility for" is generally preferred when indicating the specific area or task someone is in charge of. Using "of" might suggest possession rather than duty.

What's the difference between "primary responsibility for" and "shared responsibility for"?

"Primary responsibility for" indicates that one person or group is chiefly accountable, while "shared responsibility for" implies that multiple parties are jointly responsible. The former highlights individual accountability, while the latter emphasizes collective duty.