sole accountability

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "sole accountability" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to emphasize that one person or entity is entirely responsible for a particular task or outcome. Example: "As the project manager, I have sole accountability for the success of this initiative."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

Practically every facet in a student's college experience can be traced back to the sole ideal of accountability.

Stanford University

In the longer term, she warns, such qualifications are "not ideally suited to forming the sole basis for accountability measurement" and could lead to "more limited" teaching as schools cram students to pass.

The Guardian

Scott Elliff, the superintendant in Corpus Christi, talked of finding "efficiencies" such as closing schools, reducing athletics and letting teachers go but says using "excessive assessment" as the sole measure of accountability is getting in the way of educating kids.

Huffington Post

New York should keep the accountability that the sole trustee provides for the pension system.

The New York Times

Still, Mr. DiNapoli said he believed a sole trustee could provide more accountability than a board, and cited cases in other states where board members had failed to act independently of the governors or unions that had appointed them.

The New York Times

But they had a sole responsibility was to drug accountability and preparation at each site [37].

The Journal of Headache and Pain

It allows corporations with no track record of success, no obligation to struggling students, and no mandated standards of accountability to flourish, with the sole obligation to their shareholders.

Huffington Post

At the same time, she added, sponge counts should not be the sole responsibility of nurses: Everyone in an operating room must share accountability.

The New York Times

Yet there is no budget and no accountability process for these contracts, regardless of whether they are sole source or competitively bid.

The New York Times

Currently, the sole protection that exists between state secrecy and misinformation, and even semi-accountability, is simply trust – and since when has unconditional trust and public liberty been found in the same place?

Independent

"But we do appreciate that they recognize Walt's firm stance on fiscal accountability". On the surface, it would appear that the Tea Party Express put Minnick on its support-list for the sole purpose of having a token Democrat.

HuffPost

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "sole accountability", ensure that the context clearly defines the scope and limitations of that accountability. This avoids ambiguity and makes clear who is responsible for what.

Common error

Avoid assigning "sole accountability" when multiple parties share responsibility for an outcome. Overlooking shared responsibility can lead to unfair blame and hinder collaborative problem-solving.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sole accountability" functions as a noun phrase, identifying the state of being completely responsible for something. While Ludwig did not find direct examples, the individual words are commonly used to express responsibility and uniqueness. It serves to pinpoint the entity bearing the ultimate burden of responsibility.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

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Less common in

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "sole accountability" signifies the state of being entirely responsible for something. While Ludwig didn't turn up direct examples of the exact phrase, its component words appear frequently in contexts related to responsibility and uniqueness. It functions as a noun phrase used to clearly designate responsibility, with a professional or neutral register suitable for formal discussions. When using this phrase, clearly define the scope of accountability to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Sole responsibility

This is a very close synonym, replacing 'accountability' with 'responsibility'.

Exclusive accountability

This alternative highlights the uniqueness of the responsibility, meaning that it is not shared with anyone else.

Ultimate responsibility

This suggests that the responsibility is the final one in a chain of command or process.

Individual responsibility

This emphasizes the role of a single person in bearing the accountability.

Singular accountability

Similar to 'exclusive', this underlines that the accountability rests solely on one entity.

Personal accountability

Highlights that accountability cannot be delegated or diffused and stays at a personal level.

Complete accountability

Focuses on the extent or completeness of the accountability rather than its singularity.

Direct accountability

Emphasizes the lack of intermediaries in the accountability chain.

Primary accountability

Suggests that while others may be involved, one entity has the main accountability.

Chief accountability

Similar to 'primary', this indicates the leading role in accountability.

FAQs

What does "sole accountability" mean?

The term "sole accountability" means that one person or entity is entirely responsible for a particular task, decision, or outcome. No one else shares this specific accountability.

How can I use "sole accountability" in a sentence?

You might say, "The project manager has "sole accountability" for the project's timely completion", indicating they are the only one responsible for ensuring it finishes on time.

What are some alternatives to "sole accountability"?

You can use alternatives like "exclusive responsibility", "ultimate responsibility", or "individual responsibility" depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is it always desirable to have "sole accountability"?

Not always. While it provides clarity and focus, "sole accountability" may not be ideal in situations requiring teamwork or shared decision-making, where shared responsibility might be more appropriate.