weight of the burden

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "weight of the burden" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a heavy load or responsibility that someone is bearing or carrying. For example: "The weight of the burden was too much for him, and he had to ask for help."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

In a law-review article called "Giving Casey Its Bite Back," published in 2013, Emma Freeman, then a law-school student, argued that good "undue burden" analysis would mean evaluating a law for "the weight of the burden, the legitimacy of the state's regulatory purpose, and the sufficiency of the relationship between them".

The New Yorker

Juries have for centuries made the basic decisions between guilt and innocence and between criminal responsibility and legal insanity upon the basis of the facts, as revealed by all the evidence, and the law, as explained by instructions detailing the legal distinctions, the placement and weight of the burden of proof, the effect of presumptions, the meaning of intent, etc.

Cornell University

Recent packages for Asia and Latin America give little importance to the weight of the burden imposed on the private sector to solve a government problem.

Forbes

"As the steep hill, adding to the weight of the burden the spirited horse must bear, only makes him hasten his pace, so the difficulties of life aroused in Hartsuff an irresistible desire to overcome them instantly and effectually, and thus he always appeared, not only active, but, within his proper sphere, aggressive.

University of Chicago

I fear they do not comprehend the full weight of the burden we carry or the price we pay when we return from battle".

Huffington Post

You feel you've read volumes, though, not just because of the density of Wright's thoughts, but due to the crushing weight of the burden they carry.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

The short form was chosen, in order not to put a heavier weight on the burden of the caregiver and to increase the response rate.

BMC Public Health

The president and his key advisers increasingly attract the blame for all the failures of Afghanistan's transition; the presidential system is cracking under the weight of the burdens it is expected to carry.

The New York Times

Crippled by postpartum depression after the birth of her daughter, Iyanla -- already a 21-year-old mother of three young kids at that point -- felt helpless under the weight of the burdens surrounding her.

Huffington Post

The exact weight of that burden is measured in "After the Cup: Sons of Sakhnin United," Christopher and Alexander H. Browne's turbulent account of the season following the win.

The New York Times

"Feel the weight of this burden that you've been carrying from your mum," she instructed.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "weight of the burden" to evoke a sense of heaviness or difficulty when describing a challenging situation or responsibility. For example, "The weight of the burden was beginning to affect her health."

Common error

Avoid using "weight of the burden" too frequently in your writing, as it can become repetitive. Instead, vary your language with synonyms or more specific descriptions of the burden.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "weight of the burden" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as a subject or object in a sentence. It conveys the heaviness, impact, or difficulty associated with a particular obligation, task, or responsibility. As seen in Ludwig, the phrase accurately and effectively communicates the gravity of a situation.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

30%

Science

30%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "weight of the burden" effectively describes a heavy responsibility or difficult situation, functioning as a noun phrase to convey gravity and evoke empathy. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. While relatively rare, the phrase appears across varied sources such as News & Media, Academia and Science, as mentioned in the examples. To avoid overuse, consider employing synonyms such as "pressure of responsibility" or "load of obligations" to add variety to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

burden of expectations

Highlights the pressure of meeting expectations.

load of obligations

Focuses on the accumulation of duties.

pressure of responsibility

Emphasizes the stressful aspect of having significant duties.

strain of responsibility

Emphasizes the wearing effect of having duties.

stress of accountability

Highlights the tension caused by being held responsible.

gravity of the task

Highlights the seriousness of the work.

encumbrance of duties

Highlights how duties can be a hindrance.

demands of commitment

Focuses on the effort required by promises.

difficulty of the situation

Shifts focus to the challenging circumstances.

impact of accountability

Highlights the effects of being responsible.

FAQs

How can I use "weight of the burden" in a sentence?

You can use "weight of the burden" to describe a heavy responsibility or difficult situation. For example, "He felt the weight of the burden of leadership on his shoulders".

What are some alternatives to "weight of the burden"?

Some alternatives include "pressure of responsibility", "load of obligations", or "burden of expectations", depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "the burden's weight" instead of "weight of the burden"?

While grammatically understandable, "the burden's weight" is less common and may sound awkward. "Weight of the burden" is the more standard and natural phrasing.

What kind of burdens is the phrase "weight of the burden" usually referring to?

The phrase "weight of the burden" can refer to emotional, financial, or professional burdens, any kind of difficulty that is experienced as a heavy load.