shoulder responsibility for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'shoulder responsibility for' is correct and can be used in written English.
It is used to indicate that someone takes charge of and is accountable for a particular task or situation. For example: "The manager shouldered responsibility for the successful completion of the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

51 human-written examples

It wanted everyone to shoulder responsibility for decisions.

The New York Times

With Democrats controlling the White House and Congress, they shoulder responsibility for the country's troubles.

The New York Times

The political leadership should shoulder responsibility for any such postings, he said.

The Guardian

Moreover, the stores expect shoppers to shoulder responsibility for fraud prevention by weighing bags during checkout.

Harvard Business Review

Griffiths says that GP consortiums will shoulder responsibility for the bulk of NHS expenditure.

The Guardian

In the public sector, we do not have the funding or manpower to shoulder responsibility for prevention of knife crime.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

9 human-written examples

William Hague has has sparked renewed speculation about his commitment to his job as foreign secretary with a convoluted explanation about having to shoulder responsibilities for an "extended period of time" during the historic events in the Arab world.

The Guardian

They've asked Staller to shoulder responsibilities for the rarely seen You Never Can Tell.

Huffington Post

Data from the National Alliance for Caregiving show that, in fact, the closest living sibling most often shoulders responsibility for elder caretaking.

The New York Times

That meant Nanqian, more than any other resident of the mountain town of Hongwansi, shouldered responsibility for keeping local religious traditions alive.

The New York Times

"I would venture to say that nobody has ever done it the way she has," Auriemma said, meaning one player shouldering responsibility for an entire team.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "shoulder responsibility for" when you want to emphasize the active acceptance of duty and the willingness to handle the associated challenges.

Common error

Avoid using "shoulder responsibility for" when assigning blame. This phrase indicates acceptance of a duty, not the attribution of fault. Use "blame" when assigning fault. Instead of saying "He shouldered responsibility for the error" (implying he made it), say "He took the blame for the error"

Linguistic Context

The phrase "shoulder responsibility for" functions as a verb phrase, indicating the act of accepting and bearing the weight of accountability for something. It suggests a proactive stance in taking on duties. Ludwig AI confirms the correctness of this usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Formal & Business

18%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Science

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "shoulder responsibility for" is a widely used and grammatically sound phrase that signifies the acceptance of accountability and duty. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is correct and applicable in various contexts, predominantly in news and media, as well as formal business settings. The phrase implies a willingness to bear the weight of duty and proactively manage challenges. When choosing an alternative, consider the specific context; phrases like "take responsibility for" or "assume accountability for" can be used, depending on the specific nuance you aim to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be responsible for

A more general term indicating duty or obligation.

be accountable for

Highlights the obligation to answer for outcomes.

assume accountability for

Formal alternative emphasizing acceptance of consequences.

take ownership of

Emphasizes personal commitment and control.

bear the burden of

Implies facing difficulties associated with a responsibility.

answer for

Focuses on being held responsible for actions or results.

take charge of

Focuses on initiating and directing action.

be in charge of

Highlights a position of authority and control.

be liable for

Legalistic term indicating legal obligation.

take the reins for

Suggests assuming control and leadership.

FAQs

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

You can use "shoulder responsibility for" to indicate that someone is taking on a task or duty and accepting accountability for the outcome. For example: "The manager decided to "shoulder responsibility for" the project's success".

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

You can use alternatives like "take responsibility for", "assume accountability for", or "be accountable for" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "shoulder responsibility for" or "take responsibility for"?

Both ""shoulder responsibility for"" and "take responsibility for" are correct, but "shoulder responsibility for" often implies a more active and willing acceptance of duty and challenges, whereas "take responsibility for" is a more general term.

What's the difference between "shoulder responsibility for" and "take the blame for"?

"Shoulder responsibility for" means accepting the duty and accountability for something, while "take the blame for" means accepting the fault or culpability for something negative. The former is about duty, the latter is about fault.