act of dishonesty

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "act of dishonesty" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a specific instance or behavior that involves deceit or untruthfulness. Example: "The investigation revealed an act of dishonesty that compromised the integrity of the entire project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

"It said it came from Medicare – an extraordinary act of dishonesty.

The Guardian

The oath prohibits "any act of dishonesty or cowardice" and requires its declaimers to "strive unceasingly to quicken the public sense of civic duty".

The New York Times

Lord Justice Leveson told him he had been disingenuous in his original evidence because he had left the paper after committing an act of dishonesty.

The Guardian

Back when he was talking publicly about Lehman, Mr. Einhorn used to cast Lehman's mark-to-market pricing as an act of dishonesty.

The New York Times

In his view, "to suggest to poor parents that playing with and talking to their infant will protect the child from future academic failure and guarantee life success" is an act of dishonesty..

The New Yorker

Teacher Fei had rejected the generous offer — despite his mother's increasing loss of her grip on reality, he could not bring himself to perform any act of dishonesty in her presence.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

"I'm an Old Testament guy," Carver says, when he finally begins to grasp the story's central acts of dishonesty.

The New York Times - Books

To fire Hunter "for cause," the union would have to prove that Hunter was guilty of embezzlement, theft, larceny, material fraud or other acts of dishonesty, Ashley said.

The New York Times - Sports

And despite its heavy-handedness, "The Power of Darkness" brings home how small acts of dishonesty can lead to outright evil.

The New York Times

Even small acts of dishonesty can cost a firm dearly: the judge cited Mr Gallagher's "astounding ability to be dishonest"; BSkyB was later awarded $320m in damages.Yet businesspeople have given little serious thought to managing dishonesty.

The Economist

Under the terms of Hunter's contract, that would require the union to prove embezzlement, theft, larceny, material fraud or "other acts of dishonesty," failure to perform his duties, or conviction of a felony.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a specific incident, using "act of dishonesty" is appropriate. For ongoing patterns, consider alternatives like "deceptive practices" or "fraudulent behavior".

Common error

While grammatically sound, relying solely on the phrase "act of dishonesty" can be repetitive. Vary your vocabulary by incorporating synonyms such as "deceitful action" or "fraudulent deed" to enhance clarity and sophistication.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "act of dishonesty" functions primarily as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It identifies and labels a specific instance of untruthful or deceitful behavior. According to Ludwig, the phrase is considered grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

30%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "act of dishonesty" is a grammatically sound and widely recognized way to describe a specific instance of dishonest behavior. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is usable and correct in written English. While it appears most frequently in news and media, it also sees use in scientific and wiki contexts. For more formal or technical writing, consider alternatives like "fraudulent activity" or "deceptive practice". Remember that "act of dishonesty" refers to a singular event; for multiple instances, use "acts of dishonesty".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

dishonest deed

Focuses on the action being dishonest, emphasizing the moral quality of the deed itself.

act of deception

Highlights the intention to mislead or deceive.

fraudulent behavior

Highlights the deceptive and illegal nature of the action.

deceptive practice

Emphasizes the habitual or systematic nature of the dishonesty.

misleading action

Focuses on the action's tendency to lead someone to a wrong conclusion.

unethical conduct

Broadens the scope to include actions that violate moral principles, not just legal ones.

false representation

Emphasizes the presentation of untrue information as fact.

breach of trust

Focuses on the violation of a relationship built on trust and confidence.

act of betrayal

Emphasizes the violation of loyalty or allegiance.

corrupt practice

Suggests a systemic problem of dishonesty and abuse of power.

FAQs

How can I use "act of dishonesty" in a sentence?

You can use "act of dishonesty" to describe a specific instance of someone being dishonest. For example, "The investigation revealed an act of dishonesty that compromised the company's finances."

What are some alternatives to "act of dishonesty"?

You can use alternatives like "dishonest deed", "fraudulent behavior", or "deceptive practice" depending on the specific context.

What's the difference between "act of dishonesty" and "fraud"?

"Act of dishonesty" is a broader term referring to any dishonest action, while "fraud" specifically refers to intentional deception to secure unfair or unlawful gain.

Is "acts of dishonesty" the same as "an act of dishonesty"?

"Acts of dishonesty" refers to multiple instances of dishonest behavior, while "an act of dishonesty" refers to a single instance.