take some responsibility

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "take some responsibility" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase to refer to situations when someone needs to do something to address a problem or situation. For example, "John needs to take some responsibility and apologize to Sarah for his insensitive comments."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"The community has to take some responsibility.

The New Yorker

It's about time they take some responsibility.

The New York Times

David Cameron has to take some responsibility.

The Guardian - Opinion

Suddenly you had to take some responsibility".

The New York Times

He should take some responsibility for it".

The Guardian

Tulisa must, however, take some responsibility for our pigeon-holing.

Independent

He said: "I have to take some responsibility.

Independent

"Business travelers have to take some responsibility to help themselves".

The New York Times

That was unfortunate, and I take some responsibility.

The Guardian

Moody admits he has to take some responsibility.

The Guardian - Sport

"They need to take some responsibility for the danger themselves".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "take some responsibility", be specific about what actions need to be taken. Avoid vague statements and clearly define the expected behavior.

Common error

Don't use "take some responsibility" when you mean everyone should act but no one does. Instead, assign specific responsibilities to individuals to ensure accountability.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "take some responsibility" functions as a verbal phrase. It is used to express the need for accountability or for someone to acknowledge and address their role in a situation. Ludwig's examples show its use in various contexts, from personal accountability to corporate responsibility.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

90%

Formal & Business

5%

Science

3%

Less common in

Wiki

1%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academic sources

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "take some responsibility" is a common and versatile expression used to encourage accountability and action. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usage across various contexts, particularly in news and media. While related phrases like "accept accountability" or "own the consequences" offer similar meanings, "take some responsibility" often implies a shared or partial accountability. It's important to use this phrase with specificity, clearly defining the actions expected to avoid any ambiguity or diffusion of responsibility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

take ownership

This suggests assuming control and responsibility for a task or situation.

own the consequences

This emphasizes acknowledging and dealing with the results of one's actions.

accept accountability

This alternative focuses on the acceptance aspect rather than the action of taking responsibility.

be held accountable

This focuses on being subject to scrutiny and answerable for one's actions.

accept culpability

This is a more formal way of accepting blame or guilt.

shoulder the blame

This phrase implies accepting the negative consequences of an action or event.

be answerable for

This highlights the obligation to explain or justify one's actions.

bear the burden

This suggests taking on a difficult or onerous responsibility.

face the music

This idiom refers to confronting the unpleasant consequences of one's actions.

step up to the plate

This idiom suggests taking action and dealing with a challenging situation.

FAQs

How can I use "take some responsibility" in a sentence?

You can use "take some responsibility" to urge someone to acknowledge their role in a situation and act accordingly. For example, "The company needs to "take some responsibility" for the environmental damage it caused".

What are some alternatives to "take some responsibility"?

Alternatives include "accept accountability", "shoulder the blame", or "own the consequences", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "take responsibility" or "take some responsibility"?

Both are correct, but "take responsibility" implies assuming full accountability, while "take some responsibility" suggests sharing the accountability or addressing part of the issue.

What does it mean to "take ownership" versus "take some responsibility"?

Take ownership implies assuming control and responsibility, while "take some responsibility" simply means accepting a degree of accountability for something.