whose responsibility is it

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "whose responsibility is it" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when inquiring about the ownership or accountability of a particular task or duty. Example: "In our team meeting, we need to clarify whose responsibility it is to manage the project timeline."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

51 human-written examples

So whose responsibility is it?

The Guardian - Books

Ageing well: whose responsibility is it?

The Guardian

In a condo, whose responsibility is it to pay for window guards?

The New York Times

It's fabulous!" More from the big ageing population debate Ageing well: whose responsibility is it?

The Guardian

Q. Whose responsibility is it to advise consumers how to avoid spiking electricity bills this summer?

The New York Times

So whose responsibility is it to help prevent ocean-grabbing in developing nations?

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

9 human-written examples

Again, if that wasn't Dimon's responsibility, whose responsibility was it?

The New Yorker

One area often alluded to was the measurement of blood pressure: Whose responsibility was it?

BMC Family Practice

You can reply "Whose responsibility was it?".

WikiHow

With more elected officials voicing support for expanded medical coverage for those residents, the big question has become: Whose financial responsibility is it?

Los Angeles Times

So, whose responsibility are they?

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider rephrasing as "who is responsible for X" for a more direct and concise question.

Common error

Avoid using "whose responsibility is it" when you're actually looking for someone to blame. Responsibility focuses on duty and action, not necessarily fault.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "whose responsibility is it" serves as an interrogative expression used to identify the individual or group accountable for a specific task, duty, or outcome. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

17%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Academia

2%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "whose responsibility is it" is a grammatically correct and commonly used interrogative phrase designed to determine accountability for a given task or outcome. Ludwig AI indicates its widespread usage across various domains, particularly in news, science, and business contexts. While generally neutral, its effectiveness hinges on clarity and specificity to avoid confusion between responsibility and blame. Consider alternatives like "who is responsible" or "whose duty is it" for varying levels of formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

who is responsible

Slightly shorter, omitting "it" for a more direct question.

whose duty is it

Replaces "responsibility" with "duty", implying a moral or professional obligation.

who is accountable

Focuses on direct accountability, omitting "responsibility" and structuring it as a question.

who is in charge

Emphasizes leadership and control rather than general responsibility.

who bears the responsibility

A more formal and emphatic way of asking who is responsible.

who is liable

Highlights legal or financial liability, a more specific type of responsibility.

who is tasked with

Highlights delegation of responsibility for a specific task.

who carries the burden

Metaphorically highlights the weight of responsibility.

who is to blame

Focuses on fault rather than general responsibility or obligation.

who owns this

Informally indicates responsibility, often in a business context.

FAQs

How do I use "whose responsibility is it" in a sentence?

Use "whose responsibility is it" to inquire about who is accountable for a task or duty. For example, "Whose responsibility is it to update the project timeline?"

What's a more formal way to ask "whose responsibility is it"?

You could use the phrase "who bears the responsibility" to convey a more formal tone.

Is there a shorter alternative to "whose responsibility is it"?

Yes, you can ask "who is responsible" which is a direct and concise alternative.

What's the difference between "whose responsibility is it" and "whose fault is it"?

"Whose responsibility is it" focuses on accountability and duty, while "whose fault is it" emphasizes blame for something negative. Use the former to assign tasks and the latter to identify errors.