substantial responsibility for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "substantial responsibility for" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It means having a significant or important role in carrying out a task or duty. Example: As the project manager, she had substantial responsibility for ensuring that the project was completed on time and within budget.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

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

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

Mr Haddon-Cave singled out BAE Systems for criticism for its work on the safety case, saying that it bore "substantial responsibility" for its failure.

Independent

The report added: "Skilling, who prides himself on the controls he put in place in many areas at Enron, bears substantial responsibility for the failure of the system of internal controls to mitigate the risk" of the partnerships.

The New York Times

BAE Systems bore "substantial responsibility" for the failure of the safety case, the report says, and the exercise was "poorly managed and poorly executed, work was rushed and corners were cut".

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

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

International Journal of Emergency Medicine

In Bangladesh, the delivery of health and family planning services for 300 000 rural populations is coordinated from the sub-district (upazila), the lowest administrative structure with substantial responsibilities for planning and implementation of all development activities in rural areas [ 14].

Human Resources for Health

Messages entailing a substantial responsibility expansion for potential parents can also come from the very different corner of for-profit health care providers.

BMC Medical Ethics

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

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

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "substantial responsibility for", clearly define the specific tasks or areas the responsibility encompasses to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "substantial responsibility for" when the actual responsibilities are limited or minor. Ensure the level of responsibility genuinely matches the adjective "substantial".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "substantial responsibility for" functions as a prepositional phrase that modifies a noun or pronoun, indicating a significant level of accountability or duty. Ludwig provides examples where it denotes accountability for failures, internal controls, and student learning.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

30%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "substantial responsibility for" is a commonly used phrase that indicates a significant level of accountability or duty. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is grammatically correct and appears frequently in news, science, and business contexts. When using this phrase, it's important to clearly define the scope of the responsibilities and ensure they genuinely match the "substantial" adjective. Alternatives such as "significant accountability for" or "major role in" can be used depending on the context and desired nuance. Ultimately, the phrase is a versatile tool for assigning and emphasizing accountability in various professional and formal settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

significant accountability for

Replaces "responsibility" with "accountability", emphasizing the obligation to answer for outcomes.

notable obligation for

Replace substantial with notable

meaningful accountability for

Replace substantial with meaningful

considerable liability for

Substitutes "responsibility" with "liability", focusing on potential legal or financial burdens.

appreciable duty in

Replace substantial with appreciable

major role in

Uses "major role" instead of "responsibility", shifting the focus to involvement rather than obligation.

primary duty regarding

Replaces "responsibility" with "duty", highlighting a moral or legal obligation.

chief obligation concerning

Substitutes "responsibility" with "obligation", emphasizing a binding requirement.

large part to play in

Uses a more idiomatic expression to convey significant involvement.

principal burden relating to

Replaces "responsibility" with "burden", highlighting the weight of the obligation.

FAQs

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

You can use "substantial responsibility for" to indicate a significant level of accountability or duty. For example, "The project manager had "substantial responsibility for" the project's success".

What are some alternatives to "substantial responsibility for"?

Some alternatives include "significant accountability for", "major role in", or "primary duty regarding", depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "substantial responsibility for" or "significant responsibility for"?

Both "substantial responsibility for" and "significant responsibility for" are correct and often interchangeable. The choice depends on the nuance you want to convey. "Substantial" emphasizes the amount or degree, while "significant" emphasizes the importance or impact.

Can "substantial responsibility for" imply legal liability?

While "substantial responsibility for" doesn't automatically imply legal liability, it can suggest a degree of accountability that could lead to legal consequences if the responsibilities are not met. Consider using "considerable liability for" if you want to emphasize that legal aspect.