will be blamed

USAGE SUMMARY

"will be blamed" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It is typically used to refer to a future occurrence where someone or something will receive the blame or criticism for something. Example: "If the project fails, the team will be blamed for not properly planning and executing it."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

And who will be blamed?

The New York Times

If not, Mr Chubais will be blamed.

The Economist

(Eagles fans, of course, will be blamed).

The New York Times

If matters deteriorate, Erdoğan will be blamed.

The Guardian

The "enlightened" European elite will be blamed for this.

University of California, Berkeley

No prizes for guessing who will be blamed.

The Economist

But he will be blamed anyway, he is sure.

The New York Times

If America does it, we will be blamed".

The New Yorker

If China does not win, America will be blamed.

The New York Times

I am told that India will be blamed.

The Guardian

The Democrats will be blamed for doing nothing.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the connotation: "will be blamed" often implies a negative outcome or failure. Use it judiciously to avoid unnecessary negativity or fatalism.

Common error

While "will be blamed" is grammatically correct, overuse of passive voice can make writing seem weak or evasive. Opt for active voice when possible to clearly identify the responsible party, such as "the public will blame the government".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "will be blamed" functions as a passive construction indicating a future state where someone or something receives censure or responsibility for a negative event. As shown by Ludwig, it's a common way to express expected accountability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

89%

Wiki

2%

Science

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "will be blamed" is a versatile phrase used to anticipate the assignment of fault for future events, as validated by Ludwig. Grammatically correct and very common, it finds its primary usage in News & Media. When writing, it's important to be mindful of overusing the passive voice and to consider the context to ensure clarity and appropriate tone. For alternative phrasings, "will be held accountable" offers a more formal option, while the connotations of alternatives like "will take the fall" should be carefully considered.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

will be held accountable

Emphasizes responsibility and the expectation of answering for actions or outcomes.

will be held responsible

Highlights the obligation to bear the consequences of actions.

will be criticized

Focuses on the negative feedback and disapproval that is expected.

will be faulted

Indicates that someone or something will be found to have a defect or weakness.

will be pointed to as the cause

Highlights the act of identifying something as the source of the problem.

will bear the brunt

Focuses on who or what will suffer the main impact of blame or negative consequences.

will take the fall

Suggests that someone will accept the blame, possibly to protect others.

will be scapegoated

Indicates that someone will be unfairly blamed to deflect attention from the real issue.

will get the stick

An informal way of saying someone will receive punishment or blame.

will be pilloried

Suggests strong public criticism or ridicule.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "will be blamed" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "will be held accountable" or "will be held responsible". These options emphasize accountability and obligation.

What's a less formal alternative to "will be blamed"?

In informal contexts, you could use phrases like "will take the fall" or "will get the stick", although these carry a slightly different connotation.

Is there a difference between "will be blamed" and "will be criticized"?

While related, "will be blamed" implies assigning responsibility for something, whereas "will be criticized" focuses on the expression of disapproval or negative feedback. Blame often leads to criticism, but criticism doesn't necessarily involve assigning blame.

In what situations should I use "will be blamed" instead of "will be praised"?

"Will be blamed" is used when anticipating negative consequences or failures and the assignment of responsibility. "Will be praised" is used when anticipating positive outcomes and commendation. The choice depends on the expected result and the communicative intent.