to be answerable for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to be answerable for" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing accountability or responsibility for actions or decisions. Example: "As the project manager, I am answerable for the success of the project and the performance of my team."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

"Somebody has got to be answerable for this," he said.

The Guardian

Politicians have to be answerable for failure in ways that autocrats are not.

The Guardian - Opinion

Basquiat's humor shares with Rimbaud's a particular, visionary wisdom: that of the world surveyed by one too young to be answerable for anything in it.

The New Yorker

"Someone has to be answerable for that.

BBC

Ding et al. in [14] provided a novel effective algorithm using kernel KMC (k-means clustering) method to be answerable for attacker detection, which not only improves the attacker detection performance but also offers processing and memory savings.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

"You always have to be answerable for your behavior and unchecked behavior, we know, leads to larger things and those things manifest themselves in violent crime and property crime, like auto theft and burglary, and things like that," Jon Shane, a professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, told CBS New York.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Responsibility can be defined as the ability to be answerable or accountable for something within one's power, control or management.

Huffington Post

But does it make sense for religion to be answerable to the state?

The Economist

The anonymous MP writes: "It is completely wrong for whips to be answerable to a particular minister, instead of the prime minister.

The Guardian

"Our perception is the SAS appears to be answerable only to the Secretary of State for Defence … [and] appears to be currently exempt from the broader legal and financial penalties that regulate every other organisation in the UK," the dead man's parents said.

Independent

MPs have to be answerable to us".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use the phrase when you want to emphasize that someone has to explain and justify their actions or decisions.

Common error

Avoid using "to be answerable for" interchangeably with "to be responsible for" in all contexts. While similar, "answerable" implies a need to justify actions, while "responsible" simply means having a duty.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to be answerable for" functions as a predicate adjective phrase, indicating a state of accountability or responsibility. Ludwig examples demonstrate its use in assigning responsibility for actions, failures, or outcomes. For example, someone has "to be answerable for" a failure or an outcome.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

34%

Encyclopedias

8%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Formal & Business

6%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "to be answerable for" signifies a state of accountability, requiring individuals or entities to explain and justify their actions. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase is grammatically correct and usable. It's commonly found in news and media, science, and encyclopedic contexts, indicating a formal to neutral register. While similar to "to be responsible for", "to be answerable for" emphasizes the need for justification and potential consequences. Remember to clearly specify to whom or what the responsibility extends when using this phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to be accountable for

Emphasizes the obligation to report, explain, or justify actions; slightly more formal than the original phrase.

to be responsible for

Focuses on the duty or obligation to manage or take care of something; a broader term than "answerable".

to be liable for

Highlights the legal or financial responsibility for something; implies a potential penalty or cost.

to be held responsible for

Emphasizes the act of assigning blame or credit for something; suggests a more formal assignment of accountability.

to bear the responsibility for

Conveys a sense of carrying the weight of the responsibility; implies a more burdensome obligation.

to take ownership of

Focuses on accepting personal responsibility and control over something; less formal and more proactive.

to be subject to

Indicates being under the authority or control of something or someone; emphasizes the hierarchical aspect of accountability.

to face the consequences of

Highlights the potential repercussions of one's actions; more focused on the outcome than the responsibility itself.

to be under scrutiny for

Implies being closely examined or investigated for one's actions; suggests a more critical evaluation.

to be at the mercy of

Highlights the dependency on something or someone; can also imply vulnerability.

FAQs

What does "to be answerable for" mean?

The phrase "to be answerable for" means to be responsible for something and required to explain or justify your actions or decisions regarding it. It implies accountability and the potential for scrutiny or consequences.

What can I say instead of "to be answerable for"?

You can use alternatives like "to be responsible for", "to be accountable for", or "to be liable for" depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

How do I use "to be answerable for" in a sentence?

Use "to be answerable for" to indicate that someone is responsible and must justify their actions to a specific person or entity. For example, "The project manager is answerable to the stakeholders for the project's progress".

What is the difference between "to be answerable for" and "to be responsible for"?

"To be responsible for" generally means having a duty or obligation, while "to be answerable for" implies a requirement to explain and justify actions related to that responsibility. One can be responsible without necessarily being answerable, but being answerable usually implies responsibility.