their responsibilities

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "their responsibilities" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the duties or obligations assigned to a group of people or individuals. Example: "Each team member must understand their responsibilities to ensure the project's success."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Living up to their responsibilities.

Independent

What were their responsibilities?

The New York Times

Their responsibilities don't overlap.

The Guardian

"Their responsibilities run faster than their experience".

The New York Times

"No one failed to fulfill their responsibilities.

The New York Times

Top commanders were unsure of their responsibilities.

The New Yorker

These countries should recognise their responsibilities.

The Economist

Their responsibilities will be transferred to York.

Independent

How do they divide their responsibilities?

Independent

And people forgot their responsibilities.

The New York Times

The questioners met their responsibilities.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In legal or formal documentation, clearly define "their responsibilities" to avoid ambiguity and ensure accountability.

Common error

Ensure you're not conflating "their responsibilities" with their rights. Responsibilities are duties they must fulfill, while rights are entitlements they possess.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "their responsibilities" functions as a noun phrase, where 'their' is a possessive pronoun modifying the noun 'responsibilities'. According to Ludwig, this phrase is commonly used and grammatically correct in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

3%

Reference

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "their responsibilities" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to denote the duties and obligations of a group or individual. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is suitable across various contexts, from news and media to formal business settings. When using the phrase, ensure clarity and specificity to avoid confusion, and consider alternatives like "their duties" or "their obligations" to add nuance where appropriate. Being clear on the distinction between responsibilities and rights or accountability will also ensure correct usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

their duties

This alternative directly replaces "responsibilities" with a synonym emphasizing assigned tasks or obligations.

their obligations

This phrase swaps "responsibilities" for "obligations", highlighting the binding nature of the duties.

their duties and obligations

This alternative combines both duties and obligations to create a broader scope of "their responsibilities".

their assigned tasks

This option focuses on specific tasks allocated to them, emphasizing the practical aspect.

their roles and duties

This alternative adds the "roles" to specify the position and function related to their duties.

their functions

Replacing 'responsibilities' with 'functions' shifts the focus to the specific actions or processes they manage.

their commitments

This phrase emphasizes the promises or agreements they have made to fulfill specific duties.

what they are accountable for

This option highlights accountability, emphasizing that they are answerable for specific outcomes or actions.

the burden of their office

This alternative indicates the weight and seriousness of their responsibilities, especially in a professional context.

the scope of their work

This expands on the duties to encompass the range and extent of their activities and tasks.

FAQs

How can I use "their responsibilities" in a sentence?

You can use "their responsibilities" to refer to the duties or obligations that a group or individuals are expected to fulfill. For instance, "The team members clearly understood "their responsibilities" in the project.".

What are some alternatives to using "their responsibilities"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "their duties", "their obligations", or "their assigned tasks" instead of "their responsibilities".

Is there a difference between "their responsibilities" and "their accountability"?

"Their responsibilities" refer to the tasks or duties assigned, while "their accountability" refers to being answerable for the outcomes of those tasks. You can say that responsibilities are what they do, and accountability is how they are judged based on the result.

What's the difference between "their responsibilities" and "their roles"?

"Their roles" define their position or function within a team or organization, whereas "their responsibilities" are the specific tasks and duties associated with that role. For example, a manager's role might be to oversee a team, and "their responsibilities" include assigning tasks and evaluating performance.