shoulder more responsibility

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "shoulder more responsibility" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing the need for someone to take on additional duties or obligations, often in a work or team context. Example: "As the project progresses, it's important for each team member to shoulder more responsibility to ensure its success."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 human-written examples

Certainly Mr Cantor should shoulder more responsibility; that is what leadership is about.

The Economist

One result: Individual taxpayers will have to shoulder more responsibility for organizing their own retirement plans.

The New York Times

We cannot expect them to shoulder more responsibility without more resources".

The Guardian

But Chinese academics are starting to talk about whether the Chinese government should shoulder more responsibility for maintaining global order, Mr. Yang said.

The New York Times

Ms. Snider, as its chief executive, will shoulder more responsibility for financial health now that Mr. Geffen is out of the picture.

The New York Times

Another was that a timetable for withdrawing American troops would force the Iraqi government to shoulder more responsibility for its own fate.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

"The U.S. will keep nudging them to shoulder more responsibilities as a rising power".

The New York Times

He is the first born in his family and with his parents ageing, he has to shoulder more responsibilities.

The Guardian

Those sobering insights came later, as they became prematurely independent or even prematurely serious, sometimes taking it upon themselves to shoulder more responsibilities.

The New York Times

Ratios this skewed mean that each elite female scientist faces greater pressure to shoulder more responsibilities — plenaries, panels, mentoring and so on — than her male peers.

Nature

They have asserted that the state continues to require the homes to shoulder more responsibilities while failing to increase the fees it pays them.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "shoulder more responsibility" when you want to convey a sense of actively and willingly taking on increased duties or obligations. It suggests a proactive approach to handling new challenges.

Common error

Avoid using "shoulder more responsibility" in contexts where a literal action is expected. Ensure the context allows for the figurative meaning of 'bearing' or 'carrying' the responsibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "shoulder more responsibility" functions as a verb phrase, where "shoulder" acts as a transitive verb taking "responsibility" as its object. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

25%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Science & Research

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "shoulder more responsibility" is a common and grammatically correct way to express the act of taking on additional duties or obligations. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase appears frequently in professional writing, particularly in News & Media. While alternatives like "take on more responsibility" exist, "shoulder more responsibility" carries a slightly more formal tone. When using this phrase, ensure that the context is appropriate for its figurative meaning. It's a reliable way to communicate the need for increased accountability and proactive engagement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

take on more responsibility

Uses a more common verb, "take", instead of "shoulder", making it slightly less formal.

assume greater responsibility

Emphasizes the act of accepting or supposing responsibility.

bear more responsibility

Implies enduring or carrying the weight of responsibility.

embrace additional responsibility

Suggests willingly accepting and welcoming more responsibility.

accept increased accountability

Focuses on being answerable for outcomes.

undertake further responsibilities

Implies a formal commitment to handle more duties.

handle a larger workload

Focuses on the volume of work managed.

expand one's duties

Highlights the broadening of assigned tasks.

step up to greater challenges

Suggests rising to meet more demanding tasks.

own more of the outcome

Emphasizes personal responsibility for results.

FAQs

What does it mean to "shoulder more responsibility"?

To "shoulder more responsibility" means to take on additional duties, obligations, or tasks. It implies a willingness to accept and manage increased accountability.

Is "shoulder more responsibility" formal or informal?

The phrase "shoulder more responsibility" is generally considered neutral to slightly formal. It can be used in professional and academic contexts, as well as in news reporting.

What can I say instead of "shoulder more responsibility"?

You can use alternatives like "take on more responsibility", "assume greater responsibility", or "bear more responsibility" depending on the specific context.

How do you use "shoulder more responsibility" in a sentence?

Example: "As the company grows, each employee will need to "take on more responsibility" to ensure continued success."