should be held accountable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "should be held accountable" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It means that someone should be responsible for their actions and face consequences for any wrongdoing. Example: The CEO of the company should be held accountable for the financial losses suffered by the employees due to his reckless decisions.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

"I think they should be held accountable".

The New York Times

He should be held accountable.

The New York Times

Of course, she should be held accountable.

The Guardian - Opinion

The league should be held accountable.

The Guardian - Sport

They, too, should be held accountable".

The New York Times

Yes, high schools should be held accountable.

The New York Times

Who should be held accountable for this miserably failed strategy?

The New York Times

She said anyone responsible should be held accountable.

Independent

And he should be held accountable for his actions.

The New York Times

AF : any transgressor should be held accountable and questioned accordingly.

The New York Times

"And that is who should be held accountable".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "should be held accountable", ensure that the entity responsible for the action or decision is clearly identified to avoid ambiguity. For instance, specify 'the company should be held accountable' rather than simply stating 'someone should be held accountable'.

Common error

Avoid using the phrase "should be held accountable" excessively in passive constructions where the actor is obscured. Instead, consider rephrasing to highlight the active responsibility of individuals or entities. For example, instead of 'mistakes should be held accountable', clarify who made the mistake and state 'managers should be held accountable for the errors'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "should be held accountable" functions as a modal phrase expressing obligation or expectation. It indicates that someone or something ought to face consequences or take responsibility for their actions. Ludwig provides many examples of its use in various contexts, demonstrating its versatility.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

79%

Science

10%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "should be held accountable" is a grammatically correct and very common expression used to convey the need for someone or something to take responsibility and face consequences for their actions. According to Ludwig, it's versatile and appears across various contexts, particularly in news and media. While suitable for both formal and informal settings, clarity is essential when identifying the responsible entity. Alternatives like "must answer for their actions" or "need to take responsibility" offer similar meanings with slight variations in emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

need to take responsibility

Highlights the act of acknowledging and accepting accountability.

ought to face the consequences

Focuses on the natural or logical results of one's behavior.

need to be called to account

Implies a formal demand for explanation or justification.

must answer for their actions

Implies a stronger sense of obligation to justify behavior.

are answerable for

Emphasizes the obligation to provide an explanation.

should be brought to justice

Emphasizes legal or judicial proceedings.

are liable for their conduct

A more formal and legalistic way of expressing responsibility.

have to bear the burden

Focuses on the negative aspects of responsibility.

should be sanctioned

Highlights consequences, especially formal penalties.

should be penalized

Focuses specifically on the imposition of a penalty.

FAQs

How can I use "should be held accountable" in a sentence?

Use "should be held accountable" to express that someone or something needs to take responsibility for an action or outcome. For example: "The government should be held accountable for the environmental damage."

What is a less formal way to say "should be held accountable"?

A less formal way to express this is to say someone "needs to answer for" their actions or that they "must take responsibility".

Is it correct to say "must be held accountable" instead of "should be held accountable"?

Yes, "must be held accountable" is grammatically correct. However, it conveys a stronger sense of obligation or necessity than "should be held accountable". The choice depends on the context and the degree of emphasis you want to express.

What's the difference between "should be held accountable" and "should be held responsible"?

While similar, "should be held accountable" implies that there will be consequences for actions, while "should be held responsible" focuses more on acknowledging the duty or obligation. Accountability often includes an element of answering for one's actions and facing potential penalties.