turning over the task

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "turning over the task" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the act of assigning or transferring responsibility for a task to someone else. Example: "After reviewing the project, I will be turning over the task to my colleague for further development."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Some people also may feel better turning over the task to someone else because they feel conflicted about challenging a medical provider.

The New York Times

In late 2008, US forces began accelerating their move out of cities across Iraq, turning over the task of maintaining security to Iraqi forces.

Wikipedia

Doug Melvin is leaving his job as general manager of the Milwaukee Brewers, turning over the task of rebuilding the last-place club to someone else.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Now NASA is trying to turn over the routine tasks of carrying cargo — and eventually, astronauts — to the space station while it focuses its human spaceflight program on exploration of the inner solar system.

The New York Times

Just hours before the White House disclosed the Justice Department request, President Bush, meeting with Republican lawmakers, vigorously defended his refusal to turn over the records of the energy task force to Congress, according to several people who attended the meeting.

The New York Times

He said they needed to turn over this task quickly to Iraqi militia forces who could work with Iraqi civic and tribal leaders to draw up security arrangements tailored to each part of the country.

The New York Times

Politicians happily turned over the task of holding down costs to the managed-care industry in the 80's and 90's.

The New York Times

United States military officials in Falluja moved to halt their siege of the city, proposing to turn over the task of ending the anti-American insurgency to a new force of Iraqi soldiers, led by officers once loyal to Saddam Hussein.

The New York Times

The bill would turn over the task of administering drug coverage to private benefit managers, who would compete to attract enrollees by offering better service and cutting costs -- perhaps by encouraging enrollees to use generic drugs.

The New York Times

Some of them, to be sure, were third graders who were encouraged by their teachers to write him in North Brooklin, asking whether Stuart ever found Margalo, or what became of Wilbur in the fullness of age: these letters came in by the bagful, and in time Andy had to turn over the task of replying to others.

The New Yorker

United States military commanders here moved to loosen their siege of this city on Thursday, proposing to turn over the task of ending a fierce anti-American insurgency to a new force of Iraqi soldiers, led by officers once loyal to Saddam Hussein.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When "turning over the task", ensure clear communication of expectations, deadlines, and resources to facilitate a smooth transition and successful completion.

Common error

Avoid vague descriptions when "turning over the task". Provide detailed instructions and context to prevent misunderstandings and ensure the recipient can effectively complete the assignment.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "turning over the task" functions as a verbal phrase, indicating the action of transferring responsibility for a specific assignment to another individual or group. Ludwig AI confirms that this is a standard and acceptable English construction.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "turning over the task" is a grammatically correct and understandable English phrase used to describe the act of delegating or assigning a responsibility to someone else. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. While its frequency is relatively low, it appears in reputable sources such as The New York Times and Wikipedia. Although the phrase carries a neutral tone, the delegation of a task may also be described with alternative phrases such as "delegating the task" and "assigning the duty" in order to better reflect the context or register.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

delegating the task

Focuses on the act of assigning responsibility to someone else.

handing over the responsibility

Emphasizes the transfer of accountability alongside the task.

assigning the duty

Highlights the formal allocation of a specific obligation.

transferring the assignment

Implies a shift of a specific piece of work from one person to another.

entrusting the job

Suggests a level of trust and confidence in the person receiving the task.

passing on the task

Informal way to describe giving the task to someone else.

ceding control of the task

Highlights relinquishing authority over the completion of the task.

outsourcing the task

Involves contracting the task to an external party or organization.

subcontracting the job

Refers to assigning a portion of a larger project to another party.

relegating the duty

Suggests a less important or desirable duty being assigned.

FAQs

What does "turning over the task" mean?

It means delegating a responsibility or job to someone else. You are essentially transferring the duty to another person or entity.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "turning over the task"?

Use it when you are formally or informally assigning a task to someone else, implying a transfer of responsibility and control. This could be due to workload, expertise, or a change in priorities.

What are some alternatives to "turning over the task"?

You can use alternatives like "delegating the task", "assigning the duty", or "handing over the responsibility" depending on the context.

Is "turning over the task" formal or informal?

It's generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal settings. However, for highly formal situations, "delegating the task" might be more suitable.