What's the difference between "accountability" and "responsibility"?
Native speaker’s answer
Rebecca
This is a great question. They are related terms. The main difference between "responsibility" and "accountability" is that responsibility can be shared with others, while accountability cannot. To be accountable means to be responsible for something and also to answer for your actions (being answerable means to take action to face consequences). We "take responsibility" ourselves, but are "held accountable" by others. The way these terms are used are also different: "to be accountable for one's actions," versus "to take responsibility for one's actions." Ex: The company needs to be held accountable for its financial scandal. Ex: Accountability means that we are liable or answerable for our actions to someone else. Ex: I am not responsible for others' actions.