cronyism of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "cronyism of" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to an instance of cronyism, or favoritism towards someone based on friendship or loyalty rather than merit. For example, you could say: "The CEO's hiring decisions have been heavily criticized for their cronyism of longtime associates."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

44 human-written examples

Putting him to work for the American people is cronyism of a dangerous sort.

The Economist

"That kind of operation is old-style bossism, cronyism, of the worst kind," he said.

The New York Times

The reason this time is not the sleaze and cronyism of the 1990s, but Slovakia's prickly principles.

The Economist

The economy, though bridled by the meddling and cronyism of politicians, is one of the fastest-growing in Europe.

The Economist

Mr Putin's austere, disciplined style is a world away from the indulgent, ostentatious cronyism of the Yeltsin era.

The Economist

Fela Kuti used the phrase to describe the cronyism of Olusegun Obasanjo's military dictatorship between 1976 and 1979.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

14 human-written examples

There were widespread complaints about her lack of legal credentials, doubts about her ability and assertions of cronyism because of her longtime association with Bush.

Forbes

The liberal nature of journalism and academia (including law schools) is not so much the result of cronyism as of self-selection.

The New York Times

GEORGIA'S current political mess started with allegations of cronyism and abuse of power at the highest level.

The Economist

South Africa's president fired a critic of cronyism — now 70percentt of the country wants him to resign.

Vice

Cricket, like most things in shining India, is marked by hubris, cronyism, conflict of interest, and many such moral conflicts.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing specific instances of favoritism, use "cronyism of" to clearly attribute the practice to a particular entity or individual, highlighting their role in perpetuating it.

Common error

Avoid using "cronyism of" simply to describe general organizational problems. Ensure the issue stems specifically from favoritism based on personal relationships, not just incompetence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cronyism of" functions primarily as a noun phrase followed by a preposition. It is used to attribute the practice of cronyism—favoritism shown to friends and associates (as by appointing them to positions without regard for their qualifications)—to a specific entity. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Science

2%

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "cronyism of" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression that attributes the practice of cronyism to a specific entity. As Ludwig AI confirms, its primary function is to highlight and criticize instances of favoritism in various contexts. The phrase's neutral to professional register makes it suitable for news, formal, and business settings. While alternatives like "favoritism towards" and "nepotism within" exist, "cronyism of" is particularly effective when the source of the cronyism is a key element of the message. The best practice is to use it to clearly assign responsibility for cronyism, while avoiding its use in situations that simply reflect general inefficiency.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

favoritism towards

Focuses on the act of favoring someone or a group, instead of the system or practice behind it.

nepotism within

Specifically refers to favoring relatives, adding a familial dimension to the biased behavior.

partiality within

Highlights the lack of impartiality and fairness, suggesting a leaning towards one side.

patronage under

Suggests a system where power and influence are used to grant favors and support.

bias within

General term indicating prejudice or inclination that can influence decisions.

clientelism inside

Emphasizes a relationship based on exchanging goods and services for political support, often implying corruption.

preferential treatment in

Directly points out that some individuals or groups receive better treatment than others.

undue influence on

Indicates that decisions are swayed by inappropriate or excessive pressure.

old boy network within

Refers to an exclusive, often informal, group that favors its members.

cabal controlling

Suggests a secret, exclusive group wielding power in a manipulative way.

FAQs

How can I use "cronyism of" in a sentence?

You can use "cronyism of" to describe specific instances of favoritism within an organization or system. For example, "The investigation revealed widespread "cronyism of" the CEO in awarding contracts".

What phrases are similar to "cronyism of"?

Similar phrases include "favoritism towards", "nepotism within", and "partiality within", each with slightly different connotations.

Is there a difference between "cronyism of" and just "cronyism"?

"Cronyism" generally refers to the practice itself, while "cronyism of" is used to attribute that practice to a specific person, group, or entity.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "cronyism of" in my writing?

Use "cronyism of" when you want to emphasize who is perpetrating the cronyism. It's useful when the source or agent of the favoritism is a key part of your message.