Cool MateDuty vs You have a responsibility
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Duty
Top 1,000 (very common)B1noun
You have a responsibility
Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: Duty
| Duty | You have a responsibility | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈdjuːti/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈduːti/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //jə hæv ə rɪˌspɒn.səˈbɪl.ɪ.ti//🇺🇸 //ju hæv ə rɪˌspɑ.nəˈbɪl.ɪ.ti// |
| Meaning | A responsibility or job that someone must do. | You need to take care of something important. |
| Example | He felt it was his duty to help the less fortunate. | As a team leader, you have a responsibility to guide your members. |
| 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 on a responsibility, share a responsibility, assume a responsibility, fulfill a responsibility, bear a 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'. | Omitting the word 'a' before 'responsibility', Using 'responsibility' in singular when referring to multiple duties, Confusing 'responsibility' with 'responsibilities' when discussing multiple tasks |
| 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. | This phrase is commonly used to emphasize duty or obligation. It is appropriate in both formal and informal contexts but may sound more urgent in formal situations. |
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Frequently asked questions: Duty vs You have a responsibility
What's the difference between Duty and You have a responsibility?
Duty: A responsibility or job that someone must do. You have a responsibility: You need to take care of something important.
Which is more common: Duty and You have a 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. You have a responsibility: As a team leader, you have a responsibility to guide your members.
Can I use Duty and You have a responsibility interchangeably?
Not always. Duty and You have a 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.