account about sth.

[Hanka]

Hello,

could you please tell me what "account about sth." means in the following sentence:

The Bureau shall account periodically to the chairman of the Council about the resources spent for the programme.

Does it mean "report" or "charge, e.g. on the basis of an invoice"?

Thank you very much.

Hanka

[retro]

Hello,
could you please tell me what "account about sth." means in the following sentence:
The Bureau shall account periodically to the chairman of the Council about the resources spent for the programme.
Does it mean "report" or "charge, e.g. on the basis of an invoice"?
Thank you very much.
Hanka

To my best knowledge 'account for" means to give a satisfactory record of how the money has been sent. But a native speaker's help could be more useful.

[BobK]

To my best knowledge 'account for" means to give a satisfactory record of how the money has been sent. But a native speaker's help could be more useful.

Not just about money: "He couldn't account for his behaviour".

But returning to Hanka's question, the verb is 'account to someone...'. I'd go on 'with regard to ...' or 'concerning ...' rather than 'about', but that's just a personal preference rather than a matter of BE usage. It does mean report.

b

ps retro:
There's another use of 'account for', meaning 'kill' (but usually in a context where numbers matter): 'there were fifteen of the enemy, and only five marines; but he accounted for six of them'.

[retro]

Not just about money: "He couldn't account for his behaviour".
But returning to Hanka's question, the verb is 'account to someone...'. I'd go on 'with regard to ...' or 'concerning ...' rather than 'about', but that's just a personal preference rather than a matter of BE usage. It does mean report.
b
ps retro:
There's another use of 'account for', meaning 'kill' (but usually in a context where numbers matter): 'there were fifteen of the enemy, and only five marines; but he accounted for six of them'.

I just meant that 'account for' should rather be used instead of 'account about' in Hanka's sentence - to be exact -, but thanks for correction anyway.