responsible for failure

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "responsible for failure" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate accountability or blame for a negative outcome or lack of success. Example: "The team was ultimately responsible for failure in meeting the project deadline due to poor planning."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

41 human-written examples

This suggests that defective ASM is not responsible for failure of caspase-8 cleavage in response to cisplatin in resistant cells.

Cell Death and Disease

Many officers who served in Iraq also say privately that regardless of flawed war planning or early mistakes by civilian and military officers, the American public would hold the current officer corps responsible for failure in Iraq.

The New York Times

It is therefore to anyone still in the experimental stage that I submit the few following points which I fancy are often responsible for failure when that ancient iron omelette pan, for twenty years untouched by water, is brought out of the cupboard.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Furthermore the interfacial defect state responsible for failure is unknown.

Tribology and Interface Engineering Series

They postulated that increased stress from early weight bearing was responsible for failure.

Strategies in Trauma and Limb Reconstruction

Indeed, the latter reason is an important factor responsible for failure of restorations [5],[5]].

Applied Adhesion Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

19 human-written examples

As a result, politicians and generals responsible for failures hold their jobs, ready to fail again.

Independent

They were rarely given the means to achieve the goals set by member governments, yet were held responsible for failures not of their making.

The New York Times - Books

He told MPs: "I share the frustration of many members that it has not been possible to bring action against those responsible for failures at RBS.

The Guardian - Business

Meanwhile, managers responsible for failures will be barred from working elsewhere in the health service, while clauses gagging ex-NHS staff from raising concerns publicly will be banned.

The Guardian

"It gives the FCA the power to hold the most senior bankers personally responsible for failures at their banks – a pretty good incentive for changing bankers' behaviour for the better," he said.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When assigning blame, be specific about the actions or omissions that made someone or something "responsible for failure". This clarifies the reason for accountability and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "responsible for failure" as a vague accusation. Instead, pinpoint the specific decisions, actions, or conditions that contributed to the negative outcome. For example, instead of saying 'Poor management was responsible for the failure', specify 'The lack of clear communication from management was responsible for the failure'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "responsible for failure" functions as an adjective phrase that modifies a noun, indicating the cause or source of an unsuccessful outcome. It is used to assign accountability, as demonstrated by the examples found by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

64%

News & Media

24%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

4%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "responsible for failure" is a common and grammatically correct way to assign accountability for an unsuccessful outcome. According to Ludwig AI, it is most frequently used in scientific and news contexts. While versatile, it is important to use it with specificity, clearly identifying the actions or conditions that led to the failure. Alternative phrases like "accountable for the failure" or "to blame for the failure" can provide slightly different nuances. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's correctness and widespread applicability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

accountable for the failure

Replaces "responsible" with "accountable", emphasizing a formal obligation to answer for the failure.

culpable for the failure

Substitutes "responsible" with "culpable", highlighting blameworthiness or guilt for the failure.

to blame for the failure

Uses the idiom "to blame", directly assigning responsibility for the failure.

at fault for the failure

Employs "at fault", indicating responsibility through error or negligence leading to the failure.

liable for the failure

Replaces "responsible" with "liable", suggesting a legal or financial obligation due to the failure.

the cause of the failure

Shifts the focus to causation, identifying what directly led to the failure.

the reason for the failure

Similar to 'cause', but emphasizes the explanation or justification behind the failure.

the origin of the failure

Focuses on the starting point or source from which the failure arose.

bearer of responsibility for the failure

A more formal and emphatic way of stating who carries the burden of responsibility.

the architect of the failure

Implicates someone as the designer or instigator, often with a negative connotation.

FAQs

What does it mean to be "responsible for failure"?

To be "responsible for failure" means to be the cause, or at least a significant contributing factor, to an unsuccessful outcome. It implies accountability for the negative results.

What are some alternative phrases for "responsible for failure"?

Alternatives include "accountable for the failure", "to blame for the failure", or "culpable for the failure", depending on the context and desired nuance.

How do I use "responsible for failure" in a sentence?

You can use it to assign blame or attribute a negative outcome, as in, 'The team's lack of preparation was "responsible for failure" in the project'.

Is it better to say "responsible for failure" or "responsible for the failure"?

Both are grammatically correct, but "responsible for the failure" is more specific, referring to a particular instance. "Responsible for failure" is more general, implying responsibility for failures in general.