took responsibility for

USAGE SUMMARY

"took responsibility for" is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
Example: "John took responsibility for the mistake and offered to fix it himself."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

But he took responsibility for the divorce.

The New York Times - Sports

We took responsibility for what happened.

The New York Times

The Taliban took responsibility for the attack.

The New York Times

No group took responsibility for the attack.

The New York Times

No group took responsibility for the bombings.

The New York Times

"You took responsibility for her".

The New York Times - Magazine

Maoist rebels took responsibility for the attacks.

The New York Times

The Shabab took responsibility for the attack.

The New York Times

The Taliban took responsibility for the flogging.

The Guardian

No one took responsibility for the explosion.

The New York Times

No one immediately took responsibility for the kidnapping.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "took responsibility for", clearly state what action or situation the responsibility is being taken for to avoid ambiguity. For example, "He took responsibility for the project's failure" is more effective than "He took responsibility."

Common error

Avoid using "took responsibility for" without specifying what the responsibility entails. Ensure the context makes it clear what the subject is accountable for. Instead of saying "The company took responsibility", specify "The company took responsibility for the data breach".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "took responsibility for" functions as a verb phrase indicating the act of accepting accountability or blame for a particular action, decision, or situation. Ludwig examples show its usage across varied contexts, from personal mistakes to organizational failures.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

49%

Science

26%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

7%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "took responsibility for" is a versatile phrase used to indicate the acceptance of accountability or blame for a specific action or situation. As Ludwig AI confirms, it’s grammatically correct and frequently used across various contexts. The phrase appears most commonly in news and media, followed by scientific and formal business settings. When using this phrase, ensure clarity by specifying what the responsibility entails. Alternatives include "assumed accountability for", "acknowledged liability for", and "accepted blame for", each with slight nuances. Remember that the right tense depends on the timeline in the sentence and Ludwig can provide multiple correct examples on demand.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

stepped up to take responsibility for

Implies a proactive and voluntary acceptance of responsibility.

assumed accountability for

Emphasizes the act of taking on accountability, often in a formal or official context.

took ownership of

Implies a sense of control and management over something, beyond just accepting blame.

shouldered the responsibility for

Similar to 'bore the responsibility', emphasizing the act of carrying the burden.

acknowledged liability for

Highlights the recognition of legal or moral obligation for something.

bore the responsibility for

Highlights the burden and weight associated with the responsibility.

accepted blame for

Focuses specifically on accepting fault or culpability.

assumed the mantle of responsibility for

Suggests taking on a leadership role along with the responsibility.

addressed the responsibility for

Focuses on managing and resolving issues related to the responsibility.

owned up to

Suggests a more informal and direct admission of responsibility.

FAQs

How can I use "took responsibility for" in a sentence?

You can use "took responsibility for" to indicate that someone has accepted accountability for something. For example: "The CEO "took responsibility for" the company's financial losses."

What can I say instead of "took responsibility for"?

You can use alternatives like "assumed accountability for", "acknowledged liability for", or "accepted blame for depending on the context".

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

The choice between "take responsibility" and "took responsibility" depends on the tense of your sentence. Use "take responsibility" for present or future scenarios and "took responsibility" for past events.

What is the difference between "responsibility for" and "accountability for"?

"Responsibility for" generally refers to being in charge of something, while "accountability for" implies being answerable for the outcomes. In many cases, "accountability for" carries a stronger sense of ownership and consequence.