Be Responsible For Doing vs. Be Responsible To Do
Cambridge records be responsible for someone, something, or doing something. The for + -ing construction therefore names the action within the responsibility relation, while responsible to typically expresses accountability to a person or authority.
Use “be responsible for doing” to name an action that is someone’s duty, control, or responsibility. “Responsible to” normally introduces an authority or person, not the parallel action complement.
Key details
Choose the right form
| Meaning / situation | Construction | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| the action or area that falls within someone’s responsibility | responsible for + -ing / noun phrase | use “for” to name the duty, action, or thing |
| the person, body, or authority to whom someone is accountable | responsible to + noun phrase | use “to” for the accountability relationship |
Quick tests
Duty-or-authority test
Are you naming what the person is responsible for, or whom the person is accountable to?
If yes: Use “responsible for + -ing” for the action/duty.
If no: Use “responsible to + person/body” for accountability; do not treat it as the parallel action complement.
Caveat: “Responsible to” is a legitimate construction, but it normally answers a different question from “responsible for doing.”
Examples
Mina is responsible for reviewing the final proofs.
“For + -ing” names the action within her responsibility.
Mina is responsible to the editorial director.
“To” introduces the authority to whom she is accountable.
She is responsible for approving releases and responsible to the board for that work.
The example separates duty from accountability.
Further guidance
Boundary
Responsible to has legitimate uses for accountability to a person, body, or authority. This guide does not treat every occurrence of responsible to as an error; it distinguishes that relation from the action complement.
Construction
Use responsible for + -ing when the following action is what the subject is responsible for.
Decision
Use “be responsible for doing” to name an action that is someone’s duty, control, or responsibility. “Responsible to” normally introduces an authority or person, not the parallel action complement.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- responsible — Cambridge Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Cambridge Dictionary · Current dictionary construction for be responsible for someone, something, or doing something.