be impartial between the

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be impartial between the" is not correct in standard written English.
It is typically used when discussing fairness or neutrality in a situation involving two or more parties. Example: "As a judge, it is essential to be impartial between the two sides in the case."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

You cannot, he harrumphed, be impartial between the fireman and the fire.

The Guardian

He did not care to be impartial between the firemen and the fire.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Although required to remain impartial over his political views, Robinson wrote: "I am not, though, required to be impartial between democracy and the alternatives.

Independent

In particular, the idea of merit applies in one case but not the other: to be impartial between job candidates is presumably to select between them on the basis of merit, whereas to be impartial between one's children is not to think of merit at all, but rather to provide equal protection and care to all.

SEP

Such an agent might be impartial between her children with respect to the care they receive (while preferring her own children over others in this respect), and also impartial between the various job candidates; but it is clear that these two uses of the word 'impartial' denote very different practices.

SEP

This sort of worry is, of course, in part what motivates a consequentialist theory: no person's well-being is more valuable than that of any other person, and so we are unjustified in failing to be impartial between intimates and strangers.

SEP

It would not have "condemned a European to death for shooting an Arab… [and] by suggesting that the court is impartial between Arab and Frenchman, the novel implicitly denies the colonial reality".

The Guardian - Books

But if these responses are pictured as the results of positive traits or attributes (and not simply as, say, the result of a lack of bias or prejudice), then it is not clear that merely being impartial between persons is sufficient to guarantee that one will possess and display the necessary sensitivities.

SEP

"I'm under absolutely no obligation whatsoever to be impartial as between the forces of democracy on the one hand and the forces of evil on the other," he said.

Independent

These incidents called to mind Winston Churchill's famous comment on neutrality/impartiality: "I decline utterly to be impartial as between the Fire Brigade and the fire".

Forbes

The Speaker should be impartial in the chamber, but not impartial about the chamber.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To guarantee impartiality when mediating a conflict, concentrate on grasping the perspectives of each party, refraining from making premature decisions or taking sides.

Common error

While neutrality is part of being impartial, recognize that neutrality alone does not guarantee impartiality. Actively work to understand all perspectives to make fair evaluations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be impartial between the" functions as an imperative expressing a requirement or recommendation for someone to act without bias. It's a directive aiming to ensure fairness and equal treatment among different parties.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "be impartial between the" aims to convey a need for fairness and lack of bias, but Ludwig AI flags it as not entirely correct in standard written English. While understandable, alternatives like "remain neutral between the", "be fair to both sides", or "act without bias toward the" may provide a more precise and grammatically sound way to express the concept. The contexts where this phrase appears are varied, including news, science, and more general discussions. Focusing on clarity and grammatical correctness ensures the message of impartiality is effectively communicated.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

remain neutral between the

Focuses on maintaining a state of neutrality rather than an active effort to be impartial.

be fair to both sides

Emphasizes fairness as the guiding principle, rather than impartiality.

act without bias toward the

Highlights the absence of bias in one's actions.

treat equally the

Stresses equal treatment as a manifestation of impartiality.

show no preference between the

Directly states the lack of favoritism.

maintain objectivity between the

Focuses on objectivity as the guiding principle.

be unbiased between the

Highlights the absence of bias.

exercise impartiality toward the

Emphasizes the active execution of impartiality.

demonstrate fairness to the

Focuses on fairness as the guiding principle, rather than impartiality.

avoid favoritism between the

Highlights the act of avoiding showing favoritism.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "be impartial between the"?

Consider alternatives like "remain neutral between the" or "be fair to both sides" depending on the specific context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "be impartial between the"?

While understandable, it's more common and grammatically sound to use phrases like "remain neutral between", "be impartial toward", or "show no preference between".

What does it mean to "be impartial between the"?

It means to treat all parties or options involved equally and fairly, without any bias or favoritism. This is crucial in roles like judges or mediators to ensure fair outcomes.

How does "be impartial between the" differ from "be neutral"?

While closely related, “be impartial” emphasizes fairness and the absence of bias, while “be neutral” focuses on not taking sides or getting involved. You can "remain neutral between the" sides without necessarily being impartial if you don't actively ensure fairness.