responsibilities at hand

USAGE SUMMARY

"responsibilities at hand" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to refer to the current duties or tasks that need to be addressed or taken care of. Here is an example: "Before taking on any new projects, it is important to focus on the responsibilities at hand and prioritize them accordingly."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Mr. Obama, in contrast, did all he could Monday to suggest that despite the daunting economic responsibilities at hand, he stood in the East Room unchanged, still intent on bringing change to Washington — the ultimate outsider.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Registered nurses tended to externalise less and seemed to focus more on the responsibility at hand instead of faulting someone else for the shortcomings [ 8].

BMC Medical Ethics

Does that tell you there's a common notion of responsibility now at hand in France and Germany about how to keep Europe from sinking into irrelevance?

The New York Times

The salary is too small that it can not take you home considering the economic conditions in the country and the numerous responsibilities at your hands.

BMC Health Services Research

Both men quickly mentioned external enemies for Johnson, the Soviet Union; for Mubarak, "foreign dictations"—in order to pass off a measure of responsibility for the crises at hand.

The New Yorker

Both men quickly mentioned external enemies — for Johnson, the Soviet Union; for Mubarak, "foreign dictations" — in order to pass off a measure of responsibility for the crises at hand.

The New Yorker

Their victim story helps them absolve themselves of responsibility for the problem at hand ("I did everything I possibly could for Randy. I have been patient, supportive and kind. There's nothing more I could have done! He did this to himself!") A victim story makes us out to be innocent sufferers in the predicament.

Harvard Business Review

"I am, however, fully aware of the size and responsibility of the job at hand and do not underestimate the numerous challenges that we will meet on our journey". Burton, who was a world and European bronze medallist, thought that Somerville, who moves to a similar role with Sportscotland, was handing over a programme that is in "a strong position".

BBC

Likewise, Glimcher handed responsibilities at Pace Gallery for the season over to Adrienne Edwards, a Ph.D. candidate at New York University and an established curator unaffiliated with the gallery.

The New York Times

In a memoir, Johnson's longtime aide Harry McPherson recalls learning that the Senate's "famous 'club' atmosphere is based on the members' mutual acceptance of responsibility and concentration on the tasks at hand..

The New Yorker

In a memoir, Johnson's longtime aide Harry McPherson recalls learning that the Senate's "famous 'club' atmosphere is based on the members' mutual acceptance of responsibility and concentration on the tasks at hand...

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When prioritizing tasks, use "responsibilities at hand" to emphasize the importance of focusing on current, pressing duties before taking on new ones.

Common error

Don't let focusing solely on "responsibilities at hand" lead to neglecting long-term strategic planning. Balance immediate tasks with future goals for comprehensive success.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "responsibilities at hand" functions as a noun phrase acting as the object of a sentence or prepositional phrase, indicating current duties or tasks that need to be addressed. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is usable and grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

33%

Academia

12%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

7%

Social Media

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "responsibilities at hand" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase to denote current duties or tasks needing immediate attention. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. It is versatile, fitting into neutral and professional contexts. The phrase appears frequently in news media, science, and academic sources. While emphasizing the importance of focusing on immediate duties, it's important not to overlook long-term planning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Current duties

Focuses on the present nature of the tasks but omits the 'at hand' aspect, implying immediacy.

Immediate tasks

Emphasizes the urgency and nearness of the tasks, rather than explicitly stating responsibility.

Pending obligations

Highlights the obligatory nature of the tasks, suggesting they are waiting to be completed.

Present commitments

Stresses the binding nature of the duties and their current relevance.

Existing workload

Focuses on the volume of tasks, implying a set of duties to be managed.

Active assignments

Highlights that the tasks are currently in progress or being addressed.

Ongoing projects

Refers to tasks within a larger project context that are currently underway.

Tasks at the moment

Focuses on the specific point in time when the tasks need to be done.

Upfront accountabilities

Emphasizes the direct and immediate accountability associated with the duties.

Matters needing attention

Shifts the focus to the urgency and requirement of addressing particular issues.

FAQs

How can I use "responsibilities at hand" in a sentence?

You can use "responsibilities at hand" to emphasize the importance of focusing on current duties. For example, "Before starting new projects, prioritize the "current duties" and responsibilities at hand."

What's a formal alternative to "responsibilities at hand"?

A more formal alternative to "responsibilities at hand" could be "pending obligations" or "present commitments", especially in professional or academic contexts.

How does "responsibilities at hand" differ from "future obligations"?

"Responsibilities at hand" refers to duties needing immediate attention, while "future obligations" pertains to commitments that will require action at a later time. It is important to distinguish between the "immediate tasks" and those scheduled for the future.

Can "tasks at hand" be used interchangeably with "responsibilities at hand"?

While similar, "tasks at hand" focuses more on the specific actions needing completion, while "responsibilities at hand" emphasizes the duties and accountabilities associated with those tasks. Both refer to the "tasks at the moment".