settle responsibilities

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "settle responsibilities" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing the allocation or clarification of duties and obligations among individuals or groups. Example: "Before we begin the project, we need to settle responsibilities to ensure everyone knows their roles."

✓ Grammatically correct

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

Settle the responsibilities of the center.

WikiHow

In your central years, when you're settled, with responsibilities to home and family, you won't often get support from your partner if you say, of a Saturday, "Dearest, I'm planning on avoiding domestic chores by snoozing on the sofa for seven hours".

The Guardian - Lifestyle

As law enforcement officials struggle to track down the perpetrators of real anthrax threats, like those in Florida, Nevada and New York, they must also deal with a growing number of hoaxers, who, experts say, sometimes invoke the specter of biological attack to evade responsibilities, settle grudges or gain a sense of power.

The New York Times

B8 DEALING WITH COPYCATS -- As law enforcement officials struggle to track down the perpetrators of real anthrax threats, they must also deal with a growing number of hoaxers, who sometimes invoke the specter of biological attack to evade responsibilities, settle a grudge or gain a sense of power.

The New York Times

(An earlier version of the statement had emphasized the magazine's trust in Jackie, and regretted that it had been "misplaced" — wording that seemed to settle too much responsibility for the story's shortcomings on Jackie and not enough on the reporter or her editors).

The New Yorker

They settle on claiming responsibility for the invention of the ubiquitous, but humble Post-it Note.

Vice

There could be a cross-committee inquiry to settle the question of responsibility for the country's £156bn spending deficit, Hodge suggested, pledging to scrutinise her own government's spending record as well as holding inquiries into the coalition's attempts to reduce spending.

The Guardian

Here the purpose is to settle the extent of responsibility that attaches to a particular human action or other event or state of affairs.

SEP

Since then, the president of Panama, Ricardo Martinelli, has vowed to travel to Spain and Italy, claiming their governments have a "moral responsibility" to help settle the dispute.

The Economist

In 1792 the Sierra Leone Company assumed responsibility and helped settle slaves from Nova Scotia who had fought for the British in the American Revolutionary War, the "Maroons," runaway slaves of Jamaica, and others from captured slave ships.

Encyclopedia Britannica

An unmistakable — but not unpleasant — sense of responsibility settled on my shoulders the instant we left home.

The New York Times - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "settle responsibilities", ensure the context clearly indicates whether you are referring to the allocation, clarification, or assumption of duties. This will enhance clarity and prevent ambiguity in your writing.

Common error

A common mistake is to use "settle responsibilities" when the intention is merely to clarify or define them. Remember, "settle" implies a finality or agreement, not just an initial understanding.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "settle responsibilities" functions as a verb phrase where "settle" acts as a transitive verb taking "responsibilities" as its direct object. The phrase suggests an action of resolving or clarifying the duties and obligations.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

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Less common in

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "settle responsibilities" is grammatically correct, yet it's not widely used in contemporary English. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, but due to its limited frequency, the phrase may sound less natural compared to alternatives like "clarify responsibilities" or "define responsibilities". When intending to use "settle responsibilities", ensure the context is crystal clear to avoid misunderstanding. The intended context should imply resolving an existing question related to specific accountability for specific tasks.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

clarify responsibilities

Focuses on making responsibilities more understandable and defined, rather than resolving them.

define responsibilities

Emphasizes establishing the scope and nature of responsibilities.

allocate responsibilities

Highlights the distribution of responsibilities among different parties.

assign responsibilities

Focuses on delegating or entrusting responsibilities to specific individuals or groups.

determine responsibilities

Emphasizes the process of finding out and establishing who is responsible for what.

establish accountability

Shifts the focus to ensuring that individuals are answerable for their responsibilities.

resolve accountabilities

This alternative focuses on answering for specific responsibilities.

delegate duties

Focuses on the action of entrusting specific tasks or duties.

assume obligations

Highlights the act of taking on duties or commitments.

divvy up duties

It focuses on distributing task or duties among different parties involved.

FAQs

How can I use "settle responsibilities" in a sentence?

While "settle responsibilities" is grammatically sound, it's less common. Consider alternatives like "clarify responsibilities" or "define responsibilities" for clearer communication. You can use "settle responsibilities" when you want to express reaching an agreement on who is accountable for specific tasks.

What can I say instead of "settle responsibilities"?

Alternatives include "clarify responsibilities", "define responsibilities", or "allocate responsibilities", depending on the intended meaning.

Which is correct, "settle responsibilities" or "establish responsibilities"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but "establish responsibilities" is more common and implies setting up or creating responsibilities. "Settle responsibilities" suggests resolving existing questions about them.

What's the difference between "settle responsibilities" and "assign responsibilities"?

"Assign responsibilities" refers to delegating tasks to specific individuals. "Settle responsibilities" implies reaching an agreement or understanding on existing duties, potentially after a dispute or ambiguity.