shouldered

USAGE SUMMARY

'shouldered' is a correct and usable word in written English.
It is a verb that means to take on or accept responsibility, burden or obligation. An example sentence could be: He shouldered the blame for the mistake.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

36 human-written examples

Developing countries believe the rich countries have not shouldered a fair share of the burden and should lead by example, in terms of cutting emissions and also providing financial support to poorer nations.

The Guardian

McCoist has already shouldered a fair share of criticism for Rangers' squandering of a league advantage to Celtic.

The Guardian - Sport

It also aims to improve the EU's dismal return rate (39%) for failed asylum-seekers.Most controversially it calls for the relocation of most asylum-seekers who reach the EU, so that the burden of processing them may be more equally shouldered.

The Economist

In the past, employers made a retirement promise to their workers and shouldered the risk that investment returns might not meet it.

The Economist

And, by granting legitimacy to the inspections, a flawed regime might have been worse than no regime at all.Naturally, America has shouldered all the blame for rejecting the protocol, but there is plenty more to go round.

The Economist

Much of the expense is shouldered by taxpayers, who pay for the dedicated high-speed tracks, but the train services that run on them mostly make a profit (though Eurostar has been dogged by losses relating to the Channel Tunnel).Then there are the technical difficulties.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

24 human-written examples

As leader, he cold-shouldered the press, which he regarded as yet another enemy, though he has now embarked on a media blitz to promote his diaries.

The Economist

Both Somaliland and Puntland, a semi-autonomous north-eastern region, cold-shouldered a grand international conference on Somalia in London on May 7th.

The Economist

He says the police cold-shouldered his offers of help.Related topics The Kremlin London United Kingdom Politics Government and politicsIf so, that now looks like a mistake.

The Economist

He soon finds himself unemployed, divorced and cold-shouldered by his friends and colleagues.In this section Breathlessly to victory Blood brothers My own bit of land Prudes and prejudice Philosopher's choice At the summit ReprintsAfter months of moping around in a prescription-drug daze, Bill drops into a midtown steakhouse and falls for the leggy manageress, Allison.

The Economist

When Wang says mildly he wanted to do knitwear, note that what this meant on the catwalk was a patent leather coat embossed to give a trompe l'oeil cable-knit effect, a modern take on chainmail, and Gisele Bündchen closing the show in a round-shouldered sweater with a necklace of crystals knitted into its structure.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "shouldered" when you want to convey the idea of accepting a responsibility, burden, or blame, especially one that is significant or difficult. For instance, instead of saying someone "took responsibility", you could say they "shouldered the responsibility", which adds a sense of weight or importance to their action.

Common error

Avoid using "shouldered" when you simply mean 'supported' or 'helped'. "Shouldered" carries a connotation of taking on a burden or responsibility, not just providing assistance. For mere support, alternatives like "assisted" or "aided" are more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "shouldered" is as the past tense or past participle of the verb "shoulder". It indicates the act of bearing or taking on a burden, responsibility, or obligation. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a correct and usable word in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Academia

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "shouldered" is a versatile verb form primarily used to indicate the act of bearing or taking on a responsibility, burden, or obligation. As noted by Ludwig AI, the word is grammatically sound and frequently appears in diverse sources, particularly in the News & Media. It's important to use "shouldered" when conveying the specific nuance of accepting a weight or obligation, rather than merely providing assistance. Alternatives like "assumed" or "undertook" can provide similar meaning, but "shouldered" especially carries a sense of weight or significance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

bore the responsibility

Synonymous, but places stronger emphasis on endurance and the weight of accountability.

took on the burden

Highlights the acceptance of a difficult or heavy load.

assumed responsibility

Focuses on the act of taking on responsibility, rather than bearing a burden.

carried the load

Implies enduring effort and support, shifting focus from mere acceptance.

accepted the obligation

Highlights the formal acceptance of duty and commitment.

undertook the task

Emphasizes the initiation of a task with implied responsibility.

faced the challenge

Focuses on confronting a difficult situation with courage and determination.

addressed the issue

Highlights dealing with a problem or concern directly.

handled the matter

Emphasizes managing or dealing with something effectively.

managed the crisis

Specific to difficult or emergency situations, emphasizing control and resolution.

FAQs

How can I use "shouldered" in a sentence?

You can use "shouldered" to indicate that someone has taken on a responsibility or burden, as in, "The team shouldered the responsibility for completing the project on time." It implies acceptance and carrying the weight of the obligation.

What is a good alternative to using the word "shouldered"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives such as "assumed", "undertook", or "bore". Each carries a slightly different nuance, so choose the one that best fits your intended meaning.

Is it correct to say "shouldered with" instead of "shouldered"?

While not grammatically incorrect, "shouldered with" is less common and can sound awkward. It's generally better to use "shouldered" on its own to convey taking on a responsibility. If you want to emphasize what is being shouldered, follow "shouldered" with the direct object: "She shouldered the blame".

What's the difference between "shouldered" and "shared" when talking about responsibility?

"Shouldered" implies taking on individual responsibility, while "shared" suggests distributing the responsibility among multiple parties. For example, "He shouldered the blame" means he accepted it alone, while "They shared the responsibility" means they divided it.