shouldering the risk

USAGE SUMMARY

'shouldering the risk' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is used to describe when someone is taking on a risk or is responsible for a risky situation. For example, "The company is shouldering the risk of opening a new branch in a different state."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

But Natasha can't see the problem; separating off the online business means they'll be the ones shouldering the risk.

BBC

Financial firms earn returns on their investments by shouldering the risk that they might not be repaid.

Huffington Post

Typically, those plans are self-insured, with the employer shouldering the risk and the insurance company providing mostly administrative services.

Los Angeles Times

The financial sector makes a profit from interest rates for shouldering the risk that borrowers might not pay back their loans.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

"Farmers alone have been shouldering the risks of an increasingly ruthless global market, which has forced millions of them from the land," she said.

The New York Times

I shoulder the risk".

The New Yorker

Insurers claimed that they could not shoulder the risk of providing "terrorism insurance" without government assistance.

The New York Times

Some lawyers work on contingency ("no win, no fee") arrangements, but others cannot shoulder the risk.

The Economist

Supporters of the subsidy countered that they shoulder the risk of huge losses if their coalbed projects yield little methane.

The New York Times

The taxpayer shouldered the risk, while profit was privatised: or "heads they win and tails we lose".

The Guardian - Books

But like all of these schemes, the money is not protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme and investors shoulder the risk of the turbines failing to generate enough electricity.

The Guardian - Money

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about risk management, use "shouldering the risk" to emphasize responsibility and accountability for potential negative outcomes. This can be particularly effective in business or legal contexts where clearly assigning responsibility is important.

Common error

Avoid using "shouldering the risk" when the entity is only partially responsible for the outcome. Ensure that the subject truly bears the brunt of the potential negative consequences. Otherwise, consider phrases like "sharing the risk" or "contributing to the risk".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "shouldering the risk" functions as a verbal phrase, typically used with a subject to indicate who is accepting or bearing responsibility for potential negative consequences. It clearly assigns accountability, as supported by Ludwig AI analysis.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "shouldering the risk" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to indicate who bears responsibility for potential negative consequences. As Ludwig AI confirms, it functions effectively across various contexts, including news, business and science. While alternatives like "bearing the risk" or "assuming the risk" exist, "shouldering the risk" specifically emphasizes the burden and accountability associated with a risky situation. When using this phrase, ensure that the subject truly bears the majority of the risk to maintain clarity and accuracy in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

bearing the risk

Uses "bearing" instead of "shouldering", implying a more direct carrying of the risk.

assuming the risk

Focuses on the act of consciously accepting the risk.

taking on the risk

Emphasizes the active acceptance of the risk.

accepting the risk

Highlights the agreement to be responsible for the potential consequences.

enduring the risk

Stresses the aspect of withstanding or tolerating the risk.

handling the risk

Implies managing or dealing with the risk effectively.

managing the risk

Highlights a proactive approach to controlling or mitigating the risk.

covering the risk

Suggests providing protection or insurance against the risk.

mitigating the risk

Focuses on reducing the severity or likelihood of the risk.

swallowing the risk

More idiomatic, suggesting reluctantly accepting the risk.

FAQs

How to use "shouldering the risk" in a sentence?

You can use "shouldering the risk" to indicate who is responsible for a potentially negative outcome, such as "The company is "shouldering the risk" of launching this new product".

What can I say instead of "shouldering the risk"?

You can use alternatives like "bearing the risk", "assuming the risk", or "taking on the risk" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "shouldering the risk" or "sharing the risk"?

"Shouldering the risk" implies full responsibility, while "sharing the risk" suggests that the responsibility is divided among multiple parties. The correct choice depends on the actual situation.

What's the difference between "shouldering the risk" and "mitigating the risk"?

"Shouldering the risk" means accepting responsibility for potential negative outcomes. "Mitigating the risk", on the other hand, means taking actions to reduce the likelihood or severity of those outcomes.