ultimate responsibility for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "ultimate responsibility for" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing accountability or ownership of a task, decision, or outcome. Example: "As the project manager, I have ultimate responsibility for ensuring that the project is completed on time and within budget."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

However, the ultimate responsibility for data completeness and accuracy rests with the consultant PCI operator responsible for the PCI procedure.

Heart

Shackleton assumed ultimate responsibility for his team.

The New York Times

I take ultimate responsibility for that.

The Guardian

His government appears to bear ultimate responsibility for the attack.

The New Yorker

The man bearing ultimate responsibility for that obscenity is Assad.

The New York Times

James bears the ultimate responsibility for his death.

The Guardian - Opinion

Ultimate responsibility for the station lies with Douglas.

The Guardian

News organizations bear the ultimate responsibility for using experts.

The New York Times

(The ultimate responsibility for adhering to the takeover rules, however, lay with Kraft).

The New York Times

But the interim report seems to leave ultimate responsibility for the disaster ambiguous.

The New York Times

"Whatever challenge the British Empire faced, the ultimate responsibility for making decisions was at the center.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "ultimate responsibility for", ensure the context clearly defines the scope of that responsibility to avoid ambiguity. Be specific about what actions or outcomes the responsible party is accountable for.

Common error

Avoid assuming that having oversight automatically equates to having "ultimate responsibility for" outcomes. Oversight involves monitoring and guidance, while responsibility implies direct accountability. Clearly distinguish between these roles to prevent misattributions of blame or credit.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ultimate responsibility for" functions as a noun phrase that identifies who is finally accountable for a specific task, decision, or outcome. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage across numerous contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

49%

Science

23%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "ultimate responsibility for" is a versatile phrase used to denote the final point of accountability across diverse fields, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. Its grammatical correctness and consistent application across various sources, primarily in News & Media and Scientific domains, underscore its reliability. The phrase serves to clearly assign ownership and ensure accountability, making it essential in formal and professional communications. Related phrases like "final accountability for" and "chief responsibility for" offer alternative ways to express this concept. By understanding its function and context, writers can effectively use "ultimate responsibility for" to convey clear and unambiguous responsibility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

final accountability for

Emphasizes the aspect of being held accountable, focusing on the consequences of actions.

chief responsibility for

Highlights that the responsibility is the most important one, the principal duty.

principal obligation for

Emphasizes the binding nature of the responsibility as a duty.

primary duty for

Focuses on the idea of the most important task or requirement.

supreme authority over

Shifts the focus to the power and control associated with the responsibility.

buck stops here

An idiomatic expression that conveys the idea of accepting final responsibility.

last line of defense for

Implies that the person is the final safeguard or protection.

the onus is on

Highlights the burden or obligation that rests on someone.

bears the can

An idiomatic expression meaning to take the blame.

in charge of

Highlights a general responsibility or supervision.

FAQs

How to use "ultimate responsibility for" in a sentence?

You can use "ultimate responsibility for" to indicate who is accountable for a specific outcome or task. For example: "The CEO has the "ultimate responsibility for" the company's financial performance."

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

You can use alternatives like "final accountability for", "chief responsibility for", or "primary duty for" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "ultimate responsibility for" or "high responsibility for"?

"Ultimate responsibility for" indicates the final and highest level of accountability, while "high responsibility for" simply suggests a significant level of duty but not necessarily the final say.

What's the difference between "ultimate responsibility for" and "shared responsibility for"?

"Ultimate responsibility for" implies a single point of accountability, whereas "shared responsibility for" suggests that multiple parties are collectively accountable for an outcome. The former designates a single decision-maker, while the latter distributes the burden.