a fair shot

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a fair shot" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate giving someone an equal opportunity or chance to succeed or prove themselves. Example: "Everyone deserves a fair shot at success, regardless of their background."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Sports

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Everyone else will have a fair shot.

The Guardian - Sport

Natalie will certainly get a fair shot.

The Guardian - Sport

We're going to give you a fair shot again.

The New York Times

"We're a fair shot, and a fair shake.

The New York Times

"Everybody's got a fair shot at it," he said.

The New York Times

"Here, everyone gets a fair shot," he said.

The New York Times

I make sure everyone gets a fair shot.

The New York Times

We want to give every child and family a fair shot at reaching their fullest potential.

Stanford University

It starts by making sure that everyone in America gets a fair shot at success.

University of California, Berkeley

"We want to make sure they have a fair shot at this".

The New York Times

People who work hard and play by the rules should have a fair shot at prosperity.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a fair shot" when you want to emphasize that everyone should have an equal opportunity to succeed, regardless of their background or circumstances. It often implies that past disadvantages should be set aside.

Common error

Avoid using "a fair shot" to imply guaranteed success; it only suggests an equal opportunity. Success still depends on individual effort and other factors.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a fair shot" primarily functions as a noun phrase. It commonly serves as the object of a verb or preposition, signifying the provision or receipt of an equal opportunity. Ludwig AI confirms the common usage of the expression.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Academia

25%

Sports

10%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Science

24%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a fair shot" is a commonly used noun phrase that advocates for equality and justice by emphasizing the importance of equal opportunity. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's correct usage across diverse contexts, including news, academia, and sports. While the phrase maintains a neutral register suitable for professional and informal communication, remember that "a fair shot" implies an equal opportunity, not a guarantee of success. Alternative phrases like "an equal opportunity" or "a level playing field" can provide similar nuances. By using "a fair shot" appropriately, you enhance clarity and promote inclusive language.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an equal opportunity

Emphasizes the equality of the chance provided.

a level playing field

Highlights the fairness of the conditions for competition.

a chance to prove oneself

Focuses on demonstrating ability or worth.

an equitable opportunity

Stresses fairness and justice in the opportunity.

a decent opportunity

Implies a reasonable and acceptable chance.

a reasonable opportunity

Suggests a chance that is fair and appropriate.

a break

Informal term for a favorable opportunity.

a sporting chance

Refers to a small, but real, possibility of success.

an even break

Focuses on ensuring an impartial opportunity.

a fair shake

Colloquial expression for just treatment or opportunity.

FAQs

How can I use "a fair shot" in a sentence?

You can use "a fair shot" to indicate that someone should have an equal opportunity, such as: "Everyone deserves "a fair shot" at success."

What is a good alternative to "a fair shot"?

Alternatives to "a fair shot" include "an equal opportunity", "a level playing field", or "an equitable opportunity", depending on the specific context.

What does it mean to give someone "a fair shot"?

To give someone "a fair shot" means to provide them with an equal and unbiased opportunity to succeed, without prejudice or unfair advantages given to others.

Is it always possible to give everyone "a fair shot"?

While the ideal is to provide "a fair shot" to everyone, systemic inequalities and historical disadvantages can make it challenging to achieve true equality of opportunity in practice.