stand accountable for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "stand accountable for" is not correct in standard English; the correct expression is "be accountable for." You can use it when discussing responsibility for actions or decisions, typically in a professional or formal context.
Example: "As the project manager, I must be accountable for the team's performance and the project's outcomes."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

They say a pitcher who throws high and tight needs to stand accountable for his actions at the plate.

Los Angeles Times

"I want to see all of those officers stand trial and stand accountable for their gross misconduct," she said.

Los Angeles Times

We must press Cambodia to move forward with real reconciliation and transitional justice for the Khmer Rouge to stand accountable for their crimes and to cease allowing them.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Who is going to stand accountable and responsible for generations lost and locked in either despair and apathy or total rage with nothing in between?

Huffington Post

And in their service we all ultimately stand accountable.

The Guardian

"I am proud of, stand behind and am accountable for the work of the IG," he said.

The Washington Post

However, I also think a leader needs to be able to say "this is difficult, but this is what we are going to do", and to stand up and be accountable for that decision.

The Guardian

Gillian Cameron, 46, a parent, said: "Someone needs to stand up and be accountable for this.

BBC

Whether the Lib Dem grassroots, and the Labour leadership candidates, will have the courage to stand up for "properly accountable" schools remains to be seen.

The Guardian - Opinion

"We must hold our government accountable and stand for what is right".

The New York Times

Before the meeting, Mr Kerry said: "The one thing we could say to those people is that what they do in this is stiffen our resolve, all of us, to fight back, to hold people accountable, and to stand up for rule of law, which is exactly what we are here to do.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always ensure that the subject being held accountable is clearly defined to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using the non-standard phrase "stand accountable for". The correct and widely accepted phrase is "be accountable for". Using "stand accountable" may confuse readers and detract from your message.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "stand accountable for" is typically intended to express responsibility or liability. While each word individually has a clear function, their combination does not form a grammatically sound or widely accepted expression. Ludwig AI suggests using "be accountable for" instead.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Academia

33%

Science

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "stand accountable for" might seem intuitive, it is not grammatically correct. Ludwig AI indicates that the correct expression is "be accountable for". This analysis, drawing from various sources including news media and academic texts, underscores the importance of using standard grammatical forms to ensure clear and effective communication. Despite the presence of its constituent words in authoritative sources, the specific phrase "stand accountable for" is uncommon and should be replaced with "be accountable for" or similar alternatives to convey the intended meaning of responsibility or liability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be responsible for

Focuses on the obligation to answer for an act or outcome.

take responsibility for

Stresses the act of accepting ownership of a situation.

be liable for

Emphasizes legal or financial responsibility.

be held responsible for

Indicates that someone else will ensure accountability.

answer for

Highlights the need to explain or justify one's actions.

be answerable for

Similar to "answer for" but implies a higher level of scrutiny.

take ownership of

Implies a proactive acceptance of responsibility and its consequences.

bear the responsibility for

Emphasizes the weight or burden of accountability.

be in charge of

Focuses on the role of overseeing and being accountable for tasks.

own up to

An informal way of saying to accept responsibility.

FAQs

Is "stand accountable for" grammatically correct?

No, "stand accountable for" is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. The correct and widely accepted phrase is "be accountable for".

What does "be accountable for" mean?

"Be accountable for" means to accept responsibility for your actions and be willing to justify them. It implies that you are answerable to someone or something for your conduct or decisions.

What are some alternatives to "stand accountable for"?

Since "stand accountable for" is not grammatically correct, alternatives include "be responsible for", "be liable for", or "take responsibility for". These phrases are standard and widely accepted.

How can I use "be accountable for" in a sentence?

You can use "be accountable for" to show who is responsible for a specific action or outcome. For example, "The manager will "be accountable for" the team's performance this quarter."