shoulder your responsibility

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "shoulder your responsibility" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when discussing accountability or the need to take on duties or obligations. Example: "As a team leader, you must shoulder your responsibility for the project's success." Alternative expressions include "take on your responsibility" and "bear your responsibility."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Wiki

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

"To you, all honorable members, I say congratulations while expressing the fervent hope that you will shoulder your weighty responsibilities in this house with dignity, a sense of responsibility and seriousness of purpose".

The New York Times

Ever since the industrial age, career tracks have been built on the assumption that you can work around the clock in your 20s, shoulder increasing responsibility in your 30s and 40s and begin to ratchet down and move over for the next generation in your 50s and 60s.

The New York Times - Magazine

A cosigner will help shoulder the responsibility of your payments.

WikiHow

Should you dive into your sister's messy divorce or shoulder responsibility for your buddy's shaky employment status?

Huffington Post

I will shoulder that responsibility.

Independent

OK, I will shoulder that responsibility".

The Guardian - Sport

Certainly, government alone cannot shoulder this responsibility.

The New York Times

Kurdish fighters surely shoulder some responsibility.

The Guardian

He cannot be expected to shoulder the responsibility alone.

The Guardian - Sport

The Pakistan Cricket Board must shoulder the responsibility for appointing him.

The Guardian - Sport

"Shoulder the responsibility with the army and the police," he said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In professional settings, this phrase is effective for inspiring team members to take full ownership of their roles.

Common error

Do not confuse the figurative verb "shoulder" with the body part in a way that makes the sentence nonsensical. While "shoulder" is a body part, in this context it is a transitive verb meaning to take upon oneself. Ensure you do not use it as a noun when you intend to describe an action.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "shoulder your responsibility" functions as a transitive verb phrase. The verb "shoulder" acts figuratively to describe the action of accepting a burden, while "responsibility" serves as the direct object. Ludwig AI confirms that this construction is standard and widely accepted in contemporary English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Social Media

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "shoulder your responsibility" is a powerful and grammatically correct way to discuss accountability. By using the verb "shoulder", writers evoke a sense of weight and importance, suggesting that the duty being accepted is significant. According to Ludwig AI, it is highly versatile, appearing in contexts ranging from international politics to personal advice. While it is synonymous with ""take responsibility"", its metaphorical strength makes it particularly suitable for persuasive or serious writing. Whether in a news editorial or a business directive, this phrase effectively communicates the gravity of personal or collective obligations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

take responsibility

Uses a more neutral verb and is the most common way to express accountability

bear your responsibility

Maintains the physical metaphor of carrying a weight, similar to shoulder

assume your responsibility

More formal and often used in legal or official contexts

own your responsibility

Emphasizes personal accountability and acknowledgment of one's role

accept your responsibility

Focuses on the act of agreeing to be held accountable

discharge your responsibility

Highly formal, usually referring to the completion of a specific duty

fulfill your responsibility

Focuses on the successful execution of duties

face your responsibility

Implies a sense of confrontation or dealing with something difficult

meet your responsibility

Suggests satisfying a requirement or standard

carry the weight of responsibility

A more descriptive, idiomatic expansion of the core metaphor

FAQs

How do I use "shoulder your responsibility" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe taking on a difficult task, for example: "As a leader, you must "shoulder your responsibility" for the team's outcome."

What is a more formal way to say "shoulder your responsibility"?

In formal documents, you might prefer to use "assume responsibility" or "discharge your duties".

Is it "shoulder the responsibility" or "shoulder your responsibility"?

Both are correct. "shoulder the responsibility" is more general, while "shoulder your responsibility" is more personal and direct.

Can I say "shoulder the blame" instead?

Yes, "shoulder the blame" is a common variation used specifically when the responsibility involves a negative outcome or fault.