discriminating to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "discriminating to" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It is not commonly used and may lead to confusion. A more appropriate phrase would be needed to express the intended idea. Example: "He was discriminating to those who did not share his views."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

Or sexuality in a way that is discriminating to women, or even men!" she adds.

Independent

"I said, 'You are discriminating to me, because of my body type,' " she said with a slight accent and a breathy voice.

The New York Times

In brief, the new thought experiment suggests that under EXT, self-attributions of thought content are not sufficiently discriminating to vindicate SK.

SEP

But MLST as performed by Pannekoek et al [3] is insufficiently discriminating to resolve closely related C. trachomatis isolates.

Plosone

Hence, in our experiment, female Tropheus appeared sufficiently discriminating to create considerable variance in male reproductive success and consequently potential for directional sexual selection.

Hydrobiologia

Due to the expression of less tumor-specific antigens in the normal breast epithelium, the signal-to-noise ratio (or tumor-to-normal) needs to be sufficiently discriminating to be applicable for imaging strategies.

BMC Cancer

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

The area under the curve ranges from 0.50 (no ability to discriminate) to 1 (perfect discrimination).

BMC Health Services Research

Clinical characteristics among coerced patients, according to BPRS subscales discriminate to a certain level between genders.

BMC Psychiatry

Reports discriminate, to some extent, between health outcomes associated with different sources of particulate matter (PM).

Environmental Health: A Global Access Science Source

To be discriminating is to be able to recognize what is discriminatory.

Huffington Post

To distinguish is not to discriminate but to respect differences".

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for conciseness, consider using verbs such as "favor", "prefer" or "select", as they often convey the intended meaning of making distinctions without the grammatical awkwardness.

Common error

Be cautious when using adjectives formed from "discriminate". Words like "discriminating", "discriminatory", and "discriminable" have related but distinct meanings. Avoid using "discriminating" when you mean "discriminatory".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "discriminating to" functions as a modifier, intending to describe something that makes distinctions or differentiates. However, Ludwig's analysis indicates that it is not the preferred form. It is more common and grammatically sound to use "discriminating against" or "discriminating between".

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

37%

Formal & Business

13%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "discriminating to" appears in various sources, yet Ludwig marks it as grammatically questionable. Its intended meaning relates to making distinctions or showing preference, but it often lacks clarity. For grammatically sound alternatives, consider "discriminating against" or "discriminating between". Although it's prevalent in scientific and news-related articles, aiming for precision in formal writing necessitates choosing more direct and widely accepted phrases. Despite its common usage, prioritize alternatives for enhanced clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

discriminating against

Focuses on the action of treating a group unfairly, adding a clear target.

discriminating between

Emphasizes the act of distinguishing differences among multiple options or entities.

selective towards

Highlights the act of choosing carefully, often implying a preference for certain qualities.

showing preference for

Directly indicates favoring one option over others based on specific reasons.

favoring

A shorter term for expressing a positive bias towards something or someone.

biased towards

Emphasizes prejudice in favor of a particular thing, person, or group compared with another.

making distinctions

Highlights the act of noticing or creating differences between things.

being discerning

Suggests possessing good taste and judgment, implying a careful selection process.

exercising selectivity

Formally describes the act of being selective and carefully choosing among options.

differentiating between

Underlines the act of identifying qualities or elements that distinguish one thing from another.

FAQs

What is a more grammatically sound alternative to "discriminating to"?

Instead of "discriminating to", use more standard phrases like "discriminating against" or "discriminating between" to ensure clarity and grammatical correctness.

In what contexts is the phrase "discriminating to" most likely to appear?

While the phrase "discriminating to" can be found in diverse texts, it appears frequently in scientific and news-related articles. Although present, this does not mean the construction is grammatically correct.

Is "discriminating to" considered formal or informal language?

Given its grammatical ambiguity, "discriminating to" is best avoided in formal contexts. Opt for clearer and more precise alternatives like "discriminating against" or "discriminating between", especially in professional or academic writing.

What does it mean to be "discriminating"?

To be "discriminating" means having refined taste or good judgment, enabling one to make fine distinctions. This is different than showing prejudice or bias against someone, a meaning often confused with "discriminating against".