public accountability

USAGE SUMMARY

"public accountability" is correct and usable in written English.
You might use it in a sentence to describe a government or business's obligation to keep their citizens or customers informed about their activities and decisions, e.g. "The company prides itself on its high level of public accountability."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

On public accountability, Acpo is "directly accountable to its members, not the public".

The Guardian

Still, the expectation of public accountability prevails.

The New York Times - Arts

The process now entails no public accountability.

The New York Times

The first involves the changing nature of public accountability.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The royal family are protected from public accountability by law.

The Guardian - Opinion

This is about creating economic opportunity not public accountability.

The Guardian

Its positive effect in public accountability is already clear.

The New York Times

"We are fully in favour of transparency and public accountability.

The Guardian

Both are needed for public accountability and improvement.

The Guardian

Yet his newspaper lacks the most basic public accountability mechanisms.

The Guardian - Opinion

There was a public accountability for what they did.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about organizations, specify the mechanisms in place that ensure "public accountability", such as audits, public reports, or independent oversight committees.

Common error

Don't assume that providing information (transparency) automatically leads to "public accountability". Accountability requires mechanisms for responding to that information and taking corrective action.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "public accountability" primarily functions as a noun phrase. It acts as a subject or object in a sentence, denoting the state of being answerable to the public for one's actions or decisions. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "public accountability" is a crucial concept referring to the obligation of individuals and organizations to be transparent and responsible to the public. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage in English. It appears frequently in news, science, and formal business contexts. While transparency is a related concept, accountability goes further by requiring mechanisms for response and corrective action. To ensure clarity, it's best to specify these mechanisms when writing about organizations. Alternatives like "government transparency" can be used depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

answerability to the public

Directly indicates being responsible and required to give account to the public.

liability to the public

Indicates legal responsibility and potential consequences to the public, providing a form of accountability.

government transparency

Focuses specifically on the transparency of governmental actions, a key component of broader accountability.

open governance

Emphasizes openness in governing processes, implying a degree of public visibility and scrutiny.

oversight and transparency

Highlights both the supervisory aspect (oversight) and the visibility (transparency) necessary for accountability.

duty to report

Stresses the obligation to provide information, which is essential for holding entities accountable.

responsibility to constituents

Focuses on accountability to a specific group (constituents), rather than the broader public.

regulatory compliance

Centers on adhering to regulations, a formal mechanism for ensuring accountability in specific sectors.

stakeholder engagement

Highlights the involvement of stakeholders, implying a need to answer to their concerns and expectations.

ethical obligation

Refers to a moral duty to act responsibly, which can be a basis for expecting accountability.

FAQs

How can I use "public accountability" in a sentence?

Use "public accountability" to describe situations where an organization or individual is responsible for their actions being transparent and open to scrutiny. For example, "The new law aims to increase the "public accountability" of government officials."

What's the difference between "public accountability" and "public responsibility"?

"Public responsibility" refers to a general duty to act in the best interests of the public, while "public accountability" specifically refers to the mechanisms and processes in place to ensure that duty is fulfilled and can be scrutinized.

What are some alternatives to "public accountability"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "government transparency", "open governance", or "answerability to the public".

Why is "public accountability" important?

"Public accountability" is essential for maintaining trust in institutions and ensuring that those in positions of power are held responsible for their decisions and actions. It fosters transparency and helps prevent corruption.