substantial responsibility

USAGE SUMMARY

"substantial responsibility" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a large or important duty that someone has been entrusted with, such as, "He was given a substantial responsibility to lead the project team."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

35 human-written examples

Although not long out of law school, Ms. Gillibrand was given substantial responsibility.

The New York Times

The prosecution made numerous large errors, and bears substantial responsibility for the failure to convict.

Independent

Thanks to his wilfulness and bellicosity, this posturing ninny bears substantial responsibility for the deaths of 10m people.

The Economist

"If they're not in the Top 10 layer, they might be in the layer immediately below and still have substantial responsibility," the official said.

The New York Times

It concluded that Mr. Skilling "bears substantial responsibility for the failure of the system of internal controls" to reduce the risks in the partnerships.

The New York Times

At Enron, for example, Kenneth Lay, the chief executive, has made a concerted effort to recruit managers and give them substantial responsibility, he said.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

23 human-written examples

Two years after that, he was promoted to manager, making $90 a week for the long hours and substantial responsibilities.

The New York Times

The parliamentary inquiry into Kids Company noted that with concern that even after his resignation, Yentob "still retains substantial responsibilities … and oversees substantial budgets" at the corporation.

The Guardian

China and India argue that they must be included in any international climate-change process but exempt from substantial responsibilities in a future global climate-change regime.

The New York Times

Noting Yentob had since resigned his main position at the corporation, but still retained substantial responsibilities and oversaw substantial budgets, MPs were critical of the way the BBC has handled the affair.

The Guardian

Thus, relatively inexperienced physicians working at Dutch EDs have substantial responsibilities for patient care [5, 6].

International Journal of Emergency Medicine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When assigning "substantial responsibility", ensure clear expectations and provide adequate resources for the individual to succeed. Be explicit about the scope and limitations of their authority.

Common error

Avoid simply assigning "substantial responsibility" without defining specific tasks or expected outcomes. Clearly outline what success looks like and how performance will be evaluated.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "substantial responsibility" functions as a noun phrase, where the adjective "substantial" modifies the noun "responsibility". It describes the nature of the responsibility, indicating it is significant in scope, importance, or impact, as validated by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

25%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "substantial responsibility" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to describe a significant duty or obligation. Ludwig AI indicates that this phrase is suitable for formal contexts, including news, science, and business writing. While alternatives exist, such as "significant accountability" or "extensive duties", the choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey. When using "substantial responsibility", be clear about the specific tasks and expected outcomes to avoid vague delegation and ensure the individual has the resources they need to be successful.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

extensive duties

Stresses the breadth and scope of the tasks involved, highlighting the numerous obligations.

significant accountability

Emphasizes the aspect of being held accountable for actions and outcomes, adding a dimension of answerability.

primary charge

Highlights the main task or duty assigned, focusing on the core element of the responsibility.

critical role

Underscores the importance and impact of the position, emphasizing its essential contribution.

key obligation

Highlights the mandatory nature and importance of the duty, focusing on the binding aspect.

essential function

Focuses on the necessary and vital nature of the responsibility, highlighting its indispensable role.

considerable authority

Highlights the power and control associated with the responsibility, shifting the focus to the decision-making aspect.

weighty task

Emphasizes the seriousness and importance of the assigned duty, adding a sense of gravity.

major undertaking

Focuses on the scale and effort required, emphasizing the challenging nature of the responsibility.

chief burden

Emphasizes the weight and pressure associated with the responsibility, focusing on the demanding aspect.

FAQs

How can I use "substantial responsibility" in a sentence?

You can use "substantial responsibility" to describe a significant duty or obligation, such as, "The new manager was given "substantial responsibility" for overseeing the project."

What's a more formal way to say "substantial responsibility"?

More formal alternatives include "significant accountability", "considerable authority", or "extensive duties". The choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "substantial responsibility" or "large responsibility"?

"Substantial responsibility" and "large responsibility" are similar, but "substantial" often implies a greater degree of importance, complexity, or impact. Choose the word that best reflects the specific nature of the responsibility.

What is the difference between "substantial responsibility" and "significant responsibility"?

While very similar, "significant responsibility" typically highlights the importance or consequence of the duty, whereas ""substantial responsibility"" can also emphasize the scope or magnitude of the task. The terms are often interchangeable.