substantially responsible

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "substantially responsible" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where you want to indicate that someone or something has a significant role in causing a particular outcome or situation. Example: "The investigation revealed that the company was substantially responsible for the environmental damage caused by the spill."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

The cable also faulted Britain, which has the top responsibility for counternarcotics assistance in Afghanistan, for being "substantially responsible" for the failure to eradicate more acreage.

The New York Times

"If we create genuinely conscious robots," Schwitzgebel writes, "we are substantially responsible for their welfare.

MIT Technology Review

"He was substantially responsible for creating the situation," one of the officials said in a telephone interview.

The New York Times - Sports

And 75percentt of respondents said that human behavior was substantially responsible for any warming that has occurred.

The New York Times

"We should be looking at ourselves, but I think we have to look at what is most substantially responsible for this kind of violence," Mr. Landgraf said.

The New York Times - Arts

The new rules allow the F.D.I.C. to reclaim compensation from senior executives if they were "substantially responsible" for the bank's failure.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

But an honest assessment of Ryan's record requires acknowledging that he's made his own party substantially more responsible and rigorous, while also challenging some of the self-deceptions that are endemic on the Democratic side of the aisle.

The New York Times

By emphasizing that corporations need only identify individuals who were substantially involved in or responsible for wrongdoing, the revised policy is congruent with the "some relevant facts" standard for cooperation credit in the Justice Manual.

Columbia University

During the 1950s and 1960s, the ACLU was responsible for substantially advancing the legal protections against police misconduct.

Wikipedia

Growing density was responsible for substantially increasing sequestered carbon in the European and North American regions, despite smaller changes in area.

Plosone

High universal vaccination coverage is responsible for substantially reducing or nearly eliminating many of the diseases that once killed thousands of children each year in the US.

Human Vaccines and Immunotherapeutics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the legal implications of using "substantially responsible" as it can imply a level of liability.

Common error

Avoid using "substantially responsible" when the subject's role is minor or indirect. Overstating responsibility can lead to misinterpretations and unwarranted blame.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "substantially responsible" functions as an adjective phrase, modifying a noun or pronoun to indicate a significant degree of accountability or causation. Ludwig AI identifies this phrase as grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

34%

Academia

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Wiki

4%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "substantially responsible" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to denote a significant degree of accountability or influence. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is suitable for diverse contexts, ranging from news and media to scientific and academic discussions. When employing this phrase, it's crucial to ensure that the context clearly defines the area of responsibility to prevent any misinterpretations. While alternatives like "largely accountable" and "primarily liable" exist, the choice depends on the specific shade of meaning you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

largely accountable

Indicates a high degree of accountability but uses different wording.

primarily liable

Focuses on legal liability rather than general responsibility.

chiefly answerable

Emphasizes being answerable or accountable in a primary way.

significantly to blame

Highlights the aspect of blame or fault in a noticeable manner.

considerably culpable

Stresses the level of guilt or blameworthiness.

majorly at fault

Emphasizes the degree of fault or responsibility in a major way.

mainly in charge

Shifts focus to being in control or in charge of a situation.

principally connected

Highlights a major connection or association to an event or outcome.

largely the reason

Indicates that something is a primary cause or reason for something else.

instrumental in causing

Focuses on being a key instrument or factor in bringing about an event.

FAQs

How can I use "substantially responsible" in a sentence?

You can use "substantially responsible" to indicate that someone or something had a significant impact on an outcome. For example, "The company was "substantially responsible" for the increase in pollution levels".

What is a good alternative to "substantially responsible"?

Alternatives include "largely accountable", "primarily liable", or "chiefly answerable", depending on the context and the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "largely responsible" or "substantially responsible"?

Both "largely responsible" and "substantially responsible" are acceptable, but "substantially responsible" implies a greater degree of impact or accountability. Choose the phrase that best reflects the magnitude of the subject's role.

In a legal context, what does "substantially responsible" mean?

In legal contexts, "substantially responsible" often implies a significant level of liability or culpability for damages or wrongdoing. It suggests that the party played a key role in the events leading to the outcome.