shoulders responsibility for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "shoulders responsibility for" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing accountability or obligation for a particular task or outcome. Example: "As the project manager, she shoulders responsibility for the success of the team."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

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

Moreover, it is also possible to put on Mbeki's shoulders responsibility for yet another infectious disease outbreak.

Forbes

No single body shoulders responsibility for ocean health, and an absence of accountability is characterized by blind exploitation of resources and a willful lack of care.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 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

The Beijing National Railway Research and Design Institute of Signals and Communication said it would "shoulder responsibility" for the design flaw in the signal device.

The New York Times

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

The Guardian

Women shoulder responsibility for the giving acts that are most valuable but least visible, like mentoring behind the scenes.

Harvard Business Review

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "shoulders responsibility for" when you want to emphasize that someone is willingly and actively taking on a significant responsibility. It suggests a proactive and committed approach to handling duties or obligations.

Common error

Avoid using "shoulders responsibility for" when implying blame or fault; instead, focus on accountability and proactive management. If the intention is to assign blame, consider using phrases like "is to blame for" or "is at fault for."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "shoulders responsibility for" functions as a verb phrase indicating the act of accepting and bearing the weight of accountability or obligation. Ludwig examples demonstrate its use in assigning responsibility to individuals, organizations, or even abstract entities. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Formal & Business

22%

Wiki

11%

Less common in

Science

0%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "shoulders responsibility for" is a grammatically correct phrase used to indicate the act of accepting and bearing accountability, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. Though rare in occurrence, it finds its primary usage in news and media as well as formal business contexts. It's suitable for neutral to formal communication settings. The phrase implies a willingness to handle duties and obligations, making it a proactive and committed expression of accountability. Related phrases such as "assumes accountability for" or "takes charge of" can be used as alternatives to add variety to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is accountable for

Emphasizes being answerable for outcomes.

assumes accountability for

Focuses on the acceptance of being held accountable.

is in charge of

Highlights the managerial aspect of responsibility.

takes charge of

Implies a proactive initiation of responsibility.

is tasked with

Focuses on the assigned nature of the responsibility.

bears the burden of

Highlights the challenging aspect of the responsibility.

takes on the onus of

Similar to bearing the burden, emphasizing the weight of responsibility.

is liable for

Emphasizes legal or formal responsibility.

carries the weight of

Similar to bearing the burden, emphasizing the pressure.

accepts the duty of

Highlights the moral or ethical obligation.

FAQs

What does "shoulders responsibility for" mean?

The phrase "shoulders responsibility for" means to accept and bear the weight of responsibility for something, implying a willingness to handle the duties and obligations associated with it.

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

You can use alternatives like "assumes accountability for", "takes charge of", or "is accountable for" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "shoulder responsibility for"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct to say "shoulder responsibility for". However, "shoulders responsibility for" (with an 's') is more common when referring to a singular subject.

How is "shoulders responsibility for" different from "bears responsibility for"?

While both phrases are similar, "bears responsibility for" might imply a heavier burden or obligation, whereas "shoulders responsibility for" suggests a more active and willing acceptance of the duties. They are largely interchangeable, but context can influence the subtle difference.