spread the burden

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "spread the burden" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the distribution of responsibilities or challenges among multiple people or groups to alleviate individual stress or workload. Example: "To ensure that no one feels overwhelmed, we need to spread the burden of the project across the entire team."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

No draft to spread the burden of war more fairly.

The New York Times

"This is an effort to spread the burden amongst the largest group that one possibly can".

The New York Times

The rescue plan is intended to spread the burden of helping the authority among several groups.

The New York Times

They, unsurprisingly, support quotas, while other countries are far less keen to spread the burden.

The Economist

In France, the government has resorted to general taxation to spread the burden.

The Economist

Bancassurance does not spread the burden of costs much, says Andrew Goodwin at Commerzbank.

The Economist

Women are the ones who nurture social networks that can help spread the burden in times of famine.

The New York Times

A joint announcement would spread the burden of coming out, he said, drawing focus away from just one person.

The Guardian

"I think the property tax is a little high and it's better to spread the burden to some other revenues".

The New York Times

Judge Davis said Mesaba had failed to demonstrate that its proposed contract spread the burden of reorganization fairly.

The New York Times

Taxes have always been a bit of a problem in Levittown, which lacks significant commercial properties to spread the burden beyond homeowners.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In project management, use "spread the burden" to encourage team collaboration and prevent individual burnout by distributing tasks.

Common error

Avoid using "spread the burden" in casual conversations where simpler alternatives like "share the load" or "help out" would be more appropriate. It may sound overly formal or serious.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "spread the burden" functions as a verb phrase, typically used to describe the action of distributing a responsibility, cost, or obligation among multiple entities. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a correct and usable expression.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

49%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "spread the burden" is a versatile verb phrase used to describe the equitable distribution of responsibilities, costs, or obligations. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase is correct and usable in written English. It's commonly found in news media, scientific, and formal business contexts, emphasizing fairness and collaboration. While effective, avoid overusing it in informal settings where simpler language is more appropriate. Related phrases like "share the load" or "distribute the weight" can offer suitable alternatives depending on the specific context and desired tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Share the load

Similar in meaning but often used in more informal contexts or when referring to a tangible task.

Share the responsibility

General term for dividing responsibilities among multiple parties.

Distribute the weight

Emphasizes distributing something heavy or difficult to manage, can be literal or metaphorical.

Divvy up the responsibility

Highlights dividing responsibility into distinct parts or shares.

Alleviate the pressure

Focuses on reducing stress or strain, rather than just dividing responsibility.

Apportion the task

Implies a more formal or structured distribution of a specific task.

Disseminate the duties

Emphasizes spreading duties widely, often in a structured or organizational setting.

Transfer the obligation

Suggests shifting a duty or requirement from one party to another.

Subcontract the task

Specifically refers to delegating a part of a task to another party, often in a business context.

Deconcentrate the effort

Implies that efforts must be divided rather than focused on one individual.

FAQs

How can I use "spread the burden" in a sentence?

You can use "spread the burden" to describe how responsibilities or costs can be distributed more evenly, for example: "The new tax policy aims to "spread the burden" of funding public services more equitably".

What's a less formal alternative to "spread the burden"?

If you're looking for a less formal way to express the idea of distributing responsibilities, consider using phrases like "share the load" or "help out", depending on the context.

Is it always positive to "spread the burden"?

While often used in a positive context to promote fairness, ""spread the burden"" can also be used to describe situations where something negative is being distributed, such as blame or consequences.

What is the difference between ""spread the burden"" and "share the responsibility"?

"Spread the burden" often implies alleviating a heavy load by distributing it, whereas "share the responsibility" focuses on the joint accountability for an outcome.