put on others

USAGE SUMMARY

"put on others" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to indicate that someone is attempting to make another person take the blame for something. Example: John tried to put the blame on others, but no one would accept it.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Baker realizes that her sensitivity can feel like too much, a weight that she doesn't want to put on others.

The New Yorker

Possible benefits of a proactive outreach should therefore clearly outweigh the unwanted burden it may put on others.

BMC Geriatrics

It looks at the labels that we put on others and ourselves.

Huffington Post

Though no policy garners support like those put on others, seldom do such policies effectively address the intended issue.

Huffington Post

The restrictions I put on others are all about my own fears, like my fear of being abandoned, of not being enough, of losing love.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

"So they had new roofs put on, other work done and it's all been very, very shoddy.

BBC

You don't realise the strain you are putting on others.

Independent

"It is clear, though, that Congress needs to remove the restrictions it puts on other forms of embryo research".

The New York Times

"I like the fact I can have the sparkles and the crystals, and the glamour that I've spent my life putting on other people," he said.

BBC

It's a requirement that we put on other states.

The New York Times

Similar pressure has been put on other supervisors.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "put on others", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being placed or attributed to them, whether it's blame, responsibility, or expectations.

Common error

Avoid using "put on others" in excessively passive constructions that obscure who is doing the putting. Be direct about who is assigning or placing something onto others.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "put on others" functions primarily as a verb phrase where "put on" acts as a phrasal verb, indicating the action of transferring something—like blame, responsibility, or pressure—onto other people. The examples provided by Ludwig show its common usage in attributing something (often negative) to others.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

28%

Wiki

22%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Academia

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "put on others" is a versatile expression used to describe attributing something to other people, such as blame, responsibility, or expectations. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used. Its usage spans various contexts, including news, science, and general discussions, making it appropriate for both formal and informal communication. When using "put on others", clarity is key to ensure the context clearly indicates what is being assigned or imposed. Consider alternative phrases such as "attribute to others" or "impose on others" depending on the nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

attribute to others

This alternative replaces "put on" with "attribute to", emphasizing the act of assigning responsibility or characteristics.

place on others

This alternative uses "place" instead of "put", subtly shifting the focus to the act of positioning or imposing something.

impose upon others

"Impose upon" suggests a more forceful or burdensome action compared to "put on".

inflict on others

"Inflict on" implies causing something unpleasant or harmful to others.

ascribe to others

"Ascribe to" is similar to "attribute to" but often used in more formal contexts.

burden others with

This phrase specifically highlights the act of loading someone with a responsibility or problem.

transfer to others

This suggests the action of moving responsibility from you to someone else.

saddle others with

"Saddle with" is an idiomatic way of saying to give someone an unwanted responsibility or problem.

pin on others

To "pin on" suggests placing direct blame or accusation.

lay on others

This is a similar alternative with a nuance about the action of placing something on others.

FAQs

How can I use "put on others" in a sentence?

You can use "put on others" to describe attributing blame, responsibility, or expectations to someone else. For example, "He tried to put the blame on others for his mistake".

What's the difference between "impose on others" and "put on others"?

"Impose on others" suggests a more forceful or burdensome action, while "put on others" can be more neutral depending on the context.

What can I say instead of "put on others" to sound more formal?

In formal contexts, consider using alternatives like "attribute to others" or "ascribe to others".

Is "put on others" always negative?

Not necessarily. While often used in negative contexts like placing blame, it can also describe placing expectations or responsibilities, which aren't inherently negative.