shun responsibility

USAGE SUMMARY

"shun responsibility" is not a correct or usable phrase in written English.
To use it in spoken English, you might say, "He seems to be shunning responsibility for the mess he created."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

"Yet Karzai continues to shun responsibility for any sovereign burden, whether defense, governance or development.

The New York Times

"Karzai continues to shun responsibility for any sovereign burden, whether defense, governance or development.

The New York Times

The decision-making process in Japan takes forever, because people shun responsibility".

The New York Times

And: Karzai continues to shun responsibility for any sovereign burden, whether defense, governance or development.

The New Yorker

He decided to run for the party chairmanship after reading a newspaper headline claiming that the young shun responsibility.

The Economist

WASHINGTON — The United States ambassador in Kabul warned his superiors here in November that President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan "is not an adequate strategic partner" and "continues to shun responsibility for any sovereign burden," according to a classified cable that offers a much bleaker accounting of the risks of sending additional American troops to Afghanistan than was previously known.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

All demand restitution: the sergeant shuns responsibility.

The Economist

Politicians often blame Brussels for their own failures, shunning responsibility for decisions they had themselves endorsed behind closed doors.

The Guardian - Opinion

"There were many ways of not burdening one's conscience, of shunning responsibility, looking away, keeping mum.

The New York Times

As the show's heroine, Nancy Botwin, Ms. Parker is a 40-year-old girl shunning responsibility and never wrinkling.

The New York Times - Arts

But political opponents accused the prime minister of shunning responsibility for what the authorities have called a "national tragedy".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using more common and grammatically sound alternatives like "avoid responsibility", "shirk responsibility", or "evade responsibility" for clarity and acceptance.

Common error

Be mindful of verb conjugation when using "shun". It's more common to see "shunning responsibility" or "shunned responsibility" than the base form "shun responsibility".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "shun responsibility" functions as a verb phrase where "shun" acts as a transitive verb taking "responsibility" as its direct object. The sentence implies that someone is actively avoiding their duties. While the phrase is found in some sources, Ludwig AI indicates it's not the most natural construction.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Academia

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "shun responsibility" can be understood, Ludwig AI marks it as not a grammatically correct or frequently used expression. It implies actively avoiding or rejecting duties. Its usage is more common in news and media, often to criticize a person's failure to take accountability. For clearer and more accepted writing, consider using alternatives like "avoid responsibility", "shirk responsibility", or "evade responsibility". Always pay attention to verb conjugation to ensure correct usage in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

avoid responsibility

Direct synonym; indicates a deliberate effort to stay away from duties.

evade responsibility

Similar to 'avoid', but suggests a more skillful or strategic way of escaping duties.

shirk responsibility

Implies neglecting or failing to fulfill duties.

sidestep responsibility

Suggests maneuvering around duties without directly confronting them.

dodge responsibility

Similar to 'sidestep', implying quick or evasive movements to avoid duties.

decline responsibility

Formal way of rejecting duties.

renounce responsibility

Indicates a formal rejection or abandonment of duties.

abdicate responsibility

Suggests a high-level relinquishing of duties, often in a formal or official capacity.

escape responsibility

Emphasizes the act of getting away from duties, often implying a sense of relief.

abandon responsibility

Implies a complete and often irresponsible forsaking of duties.

FAQs

What does it mean to "shun responsibility"?

To "shun responsibility" means to deliberately avoid or reject duties and obligations. It implies an unwillingness to accept accountability.

What can I say instead of "shun responsibility"?

You can use alternatives like "avoid responsibility", "shirk responsibility", or "evade responsibility" depending on the context.

Is "shun responsibility" grammatically correct?

While the individual words are correct, the phrase "shun responsibility" is not considered a standard or grammatically correct construction in written English. Consider using alternatives for improved clarity.

How to use alternatives to "shun responsibility" in a sentence?

Instead of "He shuns responsibility", try "He "avoids responsibility"", "He "shirks responsibility"", or "He "evades responsibility"".