retaining responsibility for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "retaining responsibility for" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing accountability or obligations in a professional or formal context. Example: "The manager is retaining responsibility for the project's success despite the challenges faced by the team."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

The Nationals also have questions about Liberal Greg Hunt's Department of the Environment retaining responsibility for the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder, which manages environmental water holdings in the Murray-Darling basin.

The Guardian

Much of the problem in the second quarter was traceable to asbestos-related litigation in the United States, stemming from industrial boilers made in the 1970's by Combustion Engineering, a business ABB later bought and then sold again, retaining responsibility for the liabilities.

The New York Times

System delay was further divided into delay encountered in the primary health care sector (GP retaining responsibility for the patient) and in the secondary health care sector (the patient is no longer the responsibility of the GP).

BMC Health Services Research

The available evidence indicates that parents negotiate this by allowing the young person to have "their say" in the decision, whilst retaining responsibility for the final decision themselves [ 95].

BMC Medical Ethics

The GP may do some simple blood tests, refer the patient for investigations at a hospital (retaining responsibility for the patient) or refer the patient to a hospital department (at which point the patient is no longer the responsibility of the GP).

British Journal of Cancer

Whilst in the past the bulk of CAMHS services stopped at either 16 years of age or school leaving (whichever was later) there is now a shift in policy towards CAMHS services retaining responsibility for care until 18 years of age.

BMC Psychiatry

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

After that process, Raytheon agreed to retain responsibility for four large projects Washington deemed risky.

The New York Times

Mr. Adler will also retain responsibility for The Journal's investigative reporting team.

The New York Times

Though ABB eventually sold the company again, it retained responsibility for the liabilities.

The New York Times

Nick will remain based in London and will retain responsibility for the European business.

The New York Times

It will also retain responsibility for the state pension and most aspects of universal credit.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "retaining responsibility for", ensure it's clear what specific task, duty, or outcome the subject is accountable for.

Common error

Avoid using "retaining responsibility for" without specifying the precise area of responsibility. Be clear about what is being retained to prevent ambiguity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "retaining responsibility for" functions as a gerund phrase acting as a noun, often followed by a noun phrase specifying the area of responsibility. It highlights the continuation of accountability.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

50%

Encyclopedias

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "retaining responsibility for" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase that emphasizes the continuation of accountability. Ludwig AI confirms this. It is most commonly found in scientific and news contexts, although it is suitable for formal settings as well. While alternatives like "maintaining accountability for" or "holding responsibility for" exist, "retaining responsibility for" provides a nuanced way to highlight the active decision to keep accountability despite possible changes or delegation. When using this phrase, clarity is paramount: always specify the exact area of responsibility to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

maintaining accountability for

Emphasizes the act of keeping accountable rather than just holding responsibility.

holding responsibility for

A more direct and simple way to express the idea of being responsible.

keeping charge of

Highlights the aspect of being in control and managing something.

preserving accountability for

Focuses on the act of actively ensuring accountability is not lost.

upholding responsibility for

Stresses the importance of honoring and supporting the responsibility.

remaining liable for

Highlights the legal aspect of responsibility and potential consequences.

continuing to be accountable for

Explicitly states the ongoing nature of the accountability.

still in charge of

A more informal way of indicating continued control and responsibility.

not relinquishing control over

Focuses on the active decision to maintain control and responsibility.

continuing to oversee

Emphasizes the supervisory aspect of the responsibility.

FAQs

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

You can use "retaining responsibility for" to indicate that someone or something continues to be accountable for a specific duty or task, even after changes or delegation. For example, "The manager is "holding responsibility for" the project's outcome, despite delegating tasks to the team".

What are some alternatives to "retaining responsibility for"?

Alternatives include "maintaining accountability for", "holding responsibility for", or "keeping charge of". The best choice depends on the specific context and nuance you want to convey. For example, "maintaining accountability for" emphasizes continued oversight, while "holding responsibility for" is a more general term.

Is it better to say "retain responsibility for" or "retaining responsibility for"?

The choice between "retain responsibility for" and "retaining responsibility for" depends on the grammatical structure of your sentence. Use "retain" as a verb, such as "The company will "maintain responsibility for" the project". Use "retaining" as a gerund (a verb acting as a noun), such as "Holding responsibility for the project is crucial for the manager's success".

What's the difference between "retaining responsibility for" and "delegating responsibility for"?

"Retaining responsibility for" means keeping the accountability for something, even if tasks are assigned to others. "Delegating responsibility for" means assigning both the tasks and accountability to someone else. You might delegate tasks while still "holding responsibility for" the overall outcome.