to account for and to take into account

[xiangu]

Is it okay to say, "to account for X" when I want to say, "to take X into account"? "Account for" has several uses, but this one is new to me. Any help is appreciated.

 

[susiedq]

It would help if you had provided sentences. But, in general,

"to account for X" = to be responsbile for

"to take X into account = to use x as an example

 

[xiangu]

Thank you for your reply. For example, I usually write like this:

The plan was changed to take different possibilities into account.
​

My question was if I can reword this as follows:

The plan was changed to account for different possibilities.
​

Is this correct, or, possible?

 

[Raymott]

Thank you for your reply. For example, I usually write like this:

The plan was changed to take different possibilities into account.
​

My question was if I can reword this as follows:

The plan was changed to account for different possibilities.
​

Is this correct, or, possible?

Yes, you can make that change.

On the other hand, in most places, it wouldn't work:
"There's the missing 3 million dollars we must account for."
"There's the missing 3 million dollars we must take into account."
These have different meanings.