a lack of fairness

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a lack of fairness" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation or condition where fairness is absent or insufficient. Example: "The decision was met with criticism due to a lack of fairness in the selection process."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

What ails the US economy is a lack of stimulus and a lack of fairness.

The Guardian - Opinion

According to Marta Lagos, Latinobarómetro's director, that perception reflects broader worries about a lack of fairness in the political system.

The Economist

Clearly there was a lack of fairness – so we equalised the SPA at 65 for men and women.

The Guardian - Money

Days after the Tory party chairman, Grant Shapps, complained about a lack of "fairness" in the BBC's reporting, Paxman appeared to be equally dismissive of all three parties.

The Guardian

The interview then took a more intimidating turn when Shapps spoke of his concerns about a lack of fairness in the BBC's reporting.

The Guardian

Republicans, for their part, had vowed to block her nomination because they said her criticisms of the banking industry showed a lack of fairness.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

A lack of equity and fairness in issues related health workers' allocation of allowances, access to training and promotion and recognition has been documented in other studies and linked to contributing factors for attrition particularly in middle-level workers working in remote areas [ 19- 21, 43].

Human Resources for Health

Using theory to represent a variety of decision-making perspectives that can be applied in the online group-buying auction context, we explore whether the different incentive mechanisms cause consumers to perceive a lack of price fairness and procedural fairness in an auction's operations.

Electronic Commerce Research and Applications

What's different these days is that a despondent public, struggling with difficult times and an uncertain future, is upset over a perceived lack of fairness in public policy.

The New York Times

This bandwidth allocation strategy maximizes the bandwidth usage efficiency but suffers of a significant lack of fairness.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

This situation demonstrates a basic lack of fairness, but it has also led to great instability, particularly as those on the bottom rings--that is, those who are not rich--fight each other for the crumbs dropping from the tables of the plutocrats.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing systemic issues, use "a lack of fairness" to highlight the structural or institutional roots of inequity, such as "a lack of fairness in the justice system".

Common error

Avoid using "a lack of fairness" when you actually mean "a lack of equality". Fairness implies impartiality and just treatment, while equality implies sameness. A policy can be equal but still unfair if it doesn't account for individual circumstances.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a lack of fairness" functions as a noun phrase. It typically serves as the subject or object of a sentence, denoting the absence or deficiency of equitable treatment or impartiality. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's a usable expression in English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Encyclopedias

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a lack of fairness" is a grammatically sound and semantically rich phrase used to convey the absence of impartiality or equitable treatment. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a valid expression. Predominantly found in News & Media and Science contexts, it serves to critique unjust situations. When employing this phrase, ensure you're accurately representing the concept and not confusing it with related ideas like equality. Consider alternatives like "inequitable treatment" or "biased approach" to add nuance to your writing. Ultimately, "a lack of fairness" is a powerful tool for addressing and highlighting imbalances in various societal domains.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

inequitable treatment

Emphasizes the unequal nature of the treatment received.

unfair practices

Specifically points out actions that are not fair or just.

unequal opportunities

Highlights that people don't have the same chances or prospects.

biased approach

Highlights the presence of prejudice or favoritism.

partiality

Highlights the presence of favoritism towards a particular party.

unjust system

Focuses on the systemic nature of the unfairness.

absence of justice

Emphasizes the complete lack of fair legal or moral principles.

inequality

A broader term referring to any disparity or imbalance.

disproportionate impact

Focuses on how the effects of a situation are not evenly distributed.

uneven playing field

Metaphorically suggests that the conditions are not equal for all participants.

FAQs

How can I use "a lack of fairness" in a sentence?

You can use "a lack of fairness" to describe situations where impartiality or justice is absent. For example, "The community protested the decision due to "a lack of fairness" in the selection process."

What are some alternatives to "a lack of fairness"?

Alternatives include phrases like "inequitable treatment", "biased approach", or "unjust system", depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "lack of fairness" or "a lack of fairness"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but "a lack of fairness" is generally preferred because it sounds more natural in many contexts. The article "a" emphasizes that it's a specific instance or degree of lacking fairness.

What's the difference between "a lack of fairness" and "a lack of justice"?

"A lack of fairness" implies a deficiency in impartiality and equitable treatment, while "a lack of justice" suggests a more profound absence of moral rightness or legal redress. They are related, but justice carries a stronger connotation of moral and legal principles.