take up responsibility

USAGE SUMMARY

"take up responsibility" is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
It is commonly used to express that someone has volunteered or is accepting responsibility for something. Example sentence: "John decided to take up responsibility for the project and make sure that it was completed on time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

The Trust Deed of June 19 , 1936echoed the long-standing injunction to those who take up responsibility for the paper.

The Guardian

"If we each take responsibility for these little things today, the larger ones will become much easier tomorrow; but unless we take up responsibility ourselves, we cannot expect others to do the same".

The Guardian

"That has not been put on the table in any way," said Olga Sánchez Cordero, who is likely to take up responsibility for security in the administration of president-elect Andrés Manuel López Obrador.

The Guardian

"Unfortunately he decided to take up responsibility himself for certain things which are not within his responsibility," he said.

BBC

You can hear the tickle in his words, talking about these leaders -- ordinary citizens, all of them -- who take up responsibility, bit by bit.

Huffington Post

I was thinking I should take up responsibility in opening up a space for undergrads to be able to speak about this, to be able to process their grief and to understand that the way that they're feeling is not wrong.

HuffPost

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

Universal suffrage, especially when extended to women, encouraged "over-legislation," allowing government to take up responsibilities which were none of its business.

SEP

Do not take up responsibilities which you can't fulfill.

WikiHow

Beale, who joined Campaign in the 1990s and edited the title for eight years, took up responsibility for Marketing earlier this month.

The Guardian

At just the moment when the young adult takes up responsibilities, his receptivity for education is exhausted (SW II: 88, f.; PS I: 364).

SEP

Primary caregivers, in addition, experience losses in productivity by taking up responsibilities in care giving activities.

BMC Health Services Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "take up responsibility", ensure the context clearly indicates the specific area or task for which responsibility is being assumed. This avoids ambiguity and ensures clarity in communication.

Common error

Avoid using "take up responsibility" lightly when you are not fully prepared or capable of handling the associated tasks. Ensure you have the necessary skills, resources, and commitment before assuming the responsibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "take up responsibility" functions as a verb phrase where 'take up' acts as a phrasal verb and 'responsibility' is the direct object. According to Ludwig, the phrase is a usable and correct part of a sentence in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

18%

Less common in

Academia

6%

Wiki

6%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "take up responsibility" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe the act of accepting a duty or obligation. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in written English. While not exceptionally frequent, the phrase is common enough to be easily understood across different contexts, ranging from news and media to scientific and formal business settings. Alternatives include "assume responsibility" and "shoulder responsibility", each carrying slightly different connotations. When using this phrase, clarity and a realistic assessment of one's capabilities are crucial to ensure effective communication and commitment.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

assume responsibility

This alternative is more formal and directly emphasizes the act of accepting duties.

shoulder responsibility

This alternative suggests bearing the weight or burden of the responsibility.

accept accountability

This alternative highlights the willingness to be held responsible for outcomes.

embrace responsibility

This alternative emphasizes a positive and willing acceptance of responsibility.

step up to the plate

This idiom suggests taking action and accepting responsibility in a challenging situation.

take charge

This alternative emphasizes leadership and control when assuming responsibility.

bear the burden

This alternative emphasizes the challenges and difficulties associated with the responsibility.

own the responsibility

This alternative suggests complete acceptance and control over the responsibility.

become responsible

This alternative speaks about a longer time horizon, where the person slowly became more involved.

undertake the duty

This alternative is highly formal and emphasizes the obligation associated with the responsibility.

FAQs

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

You can use "take up responsibility" to describe someone accepting a new duty, like "She decided to "take up responsibility" for managing the team's budget."

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

A more formal alternative is "assume responsibility", which is suitable for professional or academic contexts.

Is it better to say "take up responsibility" or "take on responsibility"?

Both ""take up responsibility"" and "take on responsibility" are grammatically correct, but "take on responsibility" might be slightly more common in contemporary usage.

What does it mean to "shoulder responsibility" instead of "take up responsibility"?

While both phrases indicate accepting responsibility, "shoulder responsibility" suggests bearing a heavier burden or facing significant challenges associated with that responsibility.