taking responsibilities

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "taking responsibilities" is not correct in standard English; it should be "taking responsibility." You can use it when discussing the act of accepting or assuming duties or obligations for something.
Example: "He is taking responsibility for the project's success and ensuring that all tasks are completed on time."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

He explained the shift this way: "I've been a spectator a lot of my life, but this is about being an actor and taking responsibilities.

The New Yorker

While her boss had explained that the new job might not be "as important in the future," the young woman's old job had been dissolving from underneath her, with various coworkers taking responsibilities off her plate at her boss' request.

Forbes

They become women when still too young, taking responsibilities as adults.

HuffPost

It is apparent that taking responsibilities and being accountable is a no-brainer and that the city will take care of all those who made poor judgment, or just failed to keep their eyes open.

Los Angeles Times

The authors approved the manuscript and are taking responsibilities for appropriate portions of the content.

BMC Health Services Research

Finally, four life habits were discussed that could not be compared among the four groups: habits related to housing, taking responsibilities, community life and employment (including volunteer activities).

BMC Geriatrics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

Taking responsibility.

Independent

It's about taking responsibility.

The New York Times

They are "taking responsibility".

The Guardian

But is taking responsibility.

The Guardian - Business

Are you taking responsibility?

Harvard Business Review

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing the act of accepting duties, use the grammatically correct phrase "taking responsibility" to ensure clarity and professionalism.

Common error

Don't use "taking responsibilities" when you mean assuming accountability in general. It's more accurate to say "taking responsibility" to maintain grammatical correctness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "taking responsibilities" functions as a gerund phrase, where "taking" is a gerund acting as a noun. However, Ludwig AI indicates it's grammatically more correct to use the singular form, "taking responsibility".

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "taking responsibilities" is sometimes used, Ludwig AI advises that the grammatically correct and more widely accepted form is "taking responsibility". This phrase functions as a gerund phrase describing the act of assuming duties or accountability. It is often used in neutral to professional contexts, particularly in News & Media and Scientific publications. For clearer and more grammatically sound writing, opt for "taking responsibility" or explore alternatives such as "assuming responsibility" or "accepting responsibility".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

taking responsibility

Singular form of the noun; implies assuming accountability for a specific action or area.

assuming responsibilities

Replaces 'taking' with 'assuming', emphasizing the act of accepting duties.

accepting responsibilities

Uses 'accepting' to highlight the voluntary agreement to handle duties.

shouldering responsibilities

Uses 'shouldering' to emphasize bearing the weight or burden of duties.

embracing responsibilities

Uses 'embracing' to suggest a welcoming and positive approach to duties.

discharging responsibilities

Focuses on the act of fulfilling or carrying out duties effectively.

fulfilling obligations

Replaces responsibilities with the synonym 'obligations'.

performing duties

Uses 'performing' and 'duties' for a more formal tone.

handling affairs

A more general phrase implying managing tasks and duties.

managing obligations

Focuses on the organizational aspect of dealing with duties.

FAQs

Is it grammatically correct to say "taking responsibilities"?

While sometimes used, the grammatically preferred phrase is "taking responsibility", which is more widely accepted in standard English.

When should I use "taking responsibility"?

Use "taking responsibility" when you want to express the act of accepting accountability for something.

What is a synonym for "taking responsibility"?

Alternatives include "assuming responsibility", "accepting responsibility", or "shouldering responsibility", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

What's the difference between "taking responsibility" and "fulfilling responsibilities"?

"Taking responsibility" refers to the act of accepting accountability, while "fulfilling responsibilities" means carrying out assigned duties or tasks.