Used and loved by millions
Since I tried Ludwig back in 2017, I have been constantly using it in both editing and translation. Ever since, I suggest it to my translators at ProSciEditing.

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
what's responsible for
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesAlternative expressions(20)
what causes
what accounts for
what underlies
what is the cause of
what is the reason for
what is responsible for
what leads to
why does this occur
how does it happen that
what caused
what are the contributing factors to
whether it be because of
what moved
what prompted
what led to
what brought about
why
Why
what sparked
what was the reason for
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
32 human-written examples
That's what's responsible for the failure of prohibition.
News & Media
In short, noon is when you have the most direct sunlight*, and that's what's responsible for heating up the atmosphere.
Academia
Quiz: What's responsible for the lousy economy most Americans continue to wallow in? A. Big government, bureaucrats, and the cultural and intellectual elites who back them.
"That's not what's responsible for the dearth of women in the sciences".
Science & Research
NIH intends to figure out what's responsible for the R01 success gap with some experiments, such as conducting reviews with no identifying information about the applicant.
Science & Research
But it's hard to know what's responsible for the drop in shootings, or if any problems persist, because the department has so far shared far less information on these incidents than others do.
News & Media
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
28 human-written examples
Hopefully, you've all decided who's doing what and who's responsible for what within the group.
News & Media
But what person who's responsible for another living creature ever really understands what care entails?
News & Media
"Rita really knows what she's talking about — who's responsible for attacks, what's a legitimate terrorist organization and what's not".
News & Media
These two academics are in surprising agreement, though, that the idea of disruption is thrown around too freely, without a clear understanding of what it means, who's responsible for creating it, or what to do about it.
News & Media
You know, where one or two people drone on and on, half of the attendees seem to be talking past each other, and at the end no one's sure what's been decided or who's responsible for doing what.
News & Media
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
In highly formal academic papers, consider expanding the contraction to "what is responsible for" to maintain a traditional formal tone.
Common error
Avoid using "who's responsible for" when referring to weather patterns, economic shifts or chemical reactions. While "what's responsible for" is versatile, using the personal pronoun "who" implies human intent where none exists.
Source & Trust
89%
Authority and reliability
4.8/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "what's responsible for" serves as an interrogative or a relative clause, functioning as a causal inquiry. According to Ludwig AI analysis, it typically acts as the subject of a sentence that seeks to identify the agent or factor behind an effect. It is a contraction of "what is", which is standard in almost all registers of English except the most strictly formal.
Frequent in
News & Media
45%
Science
25%
Academia
20%
Less common in
Formal & Business
5%
Wiki
3%
Social Media
2%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
In conclusion, "what's responsible for" is a robust and flexible phrase used to probe the causes of various phenomena. Ludwig AI shows that it is exceptionally common in high-tier journalism and scientific reporting. While it is technically a contraction, its use is widely accepted across most professional and academic fields. It is a neutral alternative to more emotive phrases like "who is to blame", allowing writers to focus on objective causality rather than personal fault. Whether you are analyzing economic trends, medical declines or social shifts, this phrase provides a clear linguistic path to exploring agency and effect.
More alternative expressions(10)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
what causes
More direct and focuses on the immediate action or trigger of an event.
what accounts for
Common in academic or analytical writing to explain the reason for a specific outcome.
what is behind
A more idiomatic or metaphorical way to describe the hidden forces driving a situation.
what lies at the root of
Emphasizes the foundational or primary cause of a problem or phenomenon.
what triggers
Specifically refers to the mechanism that initiates a process or reaction.
who is to blame for
Shifts the focus to human culpability or fault, often in a negative context.
what underlies
Used in scientific or theoretical contexts to describe deeper, foundational principles.
what brings about
Focuses on the process of change and how an end result was achieved.
what drives
Suggests a motivational or systemic force that keeps a trend or action moving.
what is the cause of
The full, formal nominalization of the query, suitable for technical reports.
FAQs
How do I use "what's responsible for" in a sentence?
You can use it to start a question about a cause, such as "what's responsible for the recent surge in prices?" or as part of a statement like "We need to determine what's responsible for this error."
What can I say instead of "what's responsible for"?
You can use alternatives like "what causes", "what accounts for" or "what is behind" depending on the context.
Is "what's responsible for" grammatically correct?
Yes, it is a perfectly correct contraction of "what is responsible for". It is widely used in both news reporting and scientific journalism as seen in Ludwig examples.
What is the difference between "what's responsible for" and "who's responsible for"?
The main difference lies in the subject: "what's responsible for" refers to things, events or circumstances, while "who's responsible for" specifically refers to people or organizations.
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Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
89%
Authority and reliability
4.8/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested