which was responsible for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "which was responsible for" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate the cause or reason for something in a sentence. Example: "The committee identified the factors which were responsible for the project's success."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

The pair went on to run EMI films, which was responsible for The Deer Hunter.

The Guardian - Film

The hospital and the provider disagreed about which was responsible for keeping the patients alive.

The New York Times - Health

Jornot's investigators focused on HSBC's compliance team, which was responsible for ensuring its bankers followed the law.

The Guardian - Business

The investigators were severely critical of the Minnesota Department of Transportation, which was responsible for maintaining the bridge.

The New York Times

He made clear he had not been part of a unit which was responsible for doctoring police statements.

The Guardian - Sport

The name echoes that of a notorious militant group in Iraq, which was responsible for kidnapping and killing many foreigners.

The Guardian

ScratchJr took the idea to tablets this year, from a team including MIT, which was responsible for Scratch.

The Guardian - Tech

The interior ministry, which was responsible for the procurement of most of the wands, had already shelved an earlier inquiry.

The Guardian

Within a decade, smallpox, which was responsible for more deaths than any single war, would also disappear as a threat.

The New Yorker

Smallpox, which was responsible for the deaths of more people than have died in any single war, soon disappeared.

The New Yorker

Last month, Vevo recorded 609 million views, according to ComScore, crushing nearest rival MTV, which was responsible for 261 million.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "which was responsible for", ensure the 'which' clause clearly refers to a specific noun to avoid ambiguity. For example, instead of 'The issue, which was responsible for delays, was addressed', specify 'The faulty component, which was responsible for delays, was addressed'.

Common error

Avoid placing the "which was responsible for" clause too far from the noun it modifies. This can lead to confusion about what the clause is referring to. Keep it close to maintain clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "which was responsible for" functions as a relative clause, modifying a noun and indicating causation or accountability. Ludwig AI examples show it's used to specify the reason behind an event or the entity in charge of a certain action.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

18%

Wiki

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Reference

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "which was responsible for" is a common and grammatically correct relative clause used to indicate causation or accountability. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. Predominantly found in News & Media and Science contexts, the phrase maintains a neutral register, suitable for various communication settings. To ensure clarity, place the clause close to the noun it modifies. Alternatives include "that was accountable for" and "that caused".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

that was accountable for

Replaces "responsible" with "accountable", emphasizing obligation.

that was in charge of

Focuses on the aspect of being in control or management.

that caused

Simplifies the phrase to a direct causal relationship.

which led to

Highlights the sequence of events and the resultant outcome.

that bore the responsibility for

Emphasizes the burden or duty associated with the role.

who had the duty of

Directly indicates the obligation someone has.

that was the reason for

Highlights the justification or explanation for an event.

that was the origin of

Pinpoints the source or beginning of something.

that was instrumental in

Suggests a crucial role in bringing about a certain result.

that contributed to

Indicates that the item was one of several factors leading to an event.

FAQs

How can I use "which was responsible for" in a sentence?

Use "which was responsible for" to describe what caused a particular outcome. For example, "The heavy rain, which was responsible for the flooding, lasted for days."

What can I say instead of "which was responsible for"?

You can use alternatives like "that was accountable for", "that caused", or "which led to" depending on the context.

Is it better to use "that" or "which" with "responsible for"?

While both "that" and "which" can be used, "which" introduces a nonrestrictive clause, providing additional information. "That" would introduce a restrictive clause that is essential to the sentence's meaning.

What's the difference between "which was responsible for" and "due to"?

"Which was responsible for" is a relative clause, while "due to" is a prepositional phrase. "The accident, which was responsible for the traffic jam, occurred this morning" versus "The traffic jam was due to the accident".