Cool MateDuty vs This is your responsibility
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Duty
Top 1,000 (very common)B1noun
This is your responsibility
Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: Duty
| Duty | This is your responsibility | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈdjuːti/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈduːti/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ðɪs ɪz jɔːr rɪˌspɒnsəˈbɪləti//🇺🇸 //ðɪs ɪz jʊr ˌrɪspɑnsəˈbɪləti// |
| Meaning | A responsibility or job that someone must do. | This is something you must take care of. |
| Example | He felt it was his duty to help the less fortunate. | In this team, this is your responsibility to ensure deadlines are met. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B1 | - |
| Part of speech | noun | |
| Collocations | contractual, legal, statutory, have, owe, carry out, call, under a/the duty, duty of, duty to, a breach of duty, do your duty by somebody, be duty bound to do something, light, onerous, day, have, pull, see, fall to somebody, manager, officer, doctor, off duty, on duty, the execution of your duties, the performance of your duties, light, onerous, day, have, pull, see, fall to somebody, manager, officer, doctor, off duty, on duty, the execution of your duties, the performance of your duties, heavy, high, low, amount, impose, slap on somebody/something, increase, be payable, in duty, duty on | take responsibility, share responsibility, personal responsibility, accept responsibility, delegate responsibility |
| Antonyms | irresponsibility, neglect | - |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'dutie', incorrect spelling., Using 'duty' with a subject instead of a verb; 'duty to help' not 'duty help'., Not using it with the correct preposition, often omitting 'to'. | Using 'responsibility' incorrectly as a verb instead of a noun., Saying 'Your responsibilities is' instead of 'Your responsibilities are'. |
| Usage notes | Used in both formal and informal contexts. Often relates to moral or legal responsibilities. Avoid using it in casual conversations where lighter terms like 'task' may fit better. | Use this phrase to emphasize someone's duty or obligation. It's appropriate in both formal and informal contexts, but can sound strong in casual conversation. |
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Frequently asked questions: Duty vs This is your responsibility
What's the difference between Duty and This is your responsibility?
Duty: A responsibility or job that someone must do. This is your responsibility: This is something you must take care of.
Which is more common: Duty and This is your responsibility?
Duty is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Duty: He felt it was his duty to help the less fortunate. This is your responsibility: In this team, this is your responsibility to ensure deadlines are met.
Can I use Duty and This is your responsibility interchangeably?
Not always. Duty and This is your responsibility are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.