disproportionately affected

USAGE SUMMARY

"disproportionately affected" is a correct and usable English phrase.
You can use it to describe when a group is more impacted than other groups by a certain event or action. Example: Despite comprising just 10% of the population, low-income earners were disproportionately affected by the tax increases.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Women have been disproportionately affected.

The Guardian - Opinion

This disenfranchisement disproportionately affected African-Americans.

The New York Times

Women are likely to be disproportionately affected.

The Guardian

Ideological Tory cuts have disproportionately affected women.

The Guardian - Opinion

The citizenship match disproportionately affected black, Hispanic and Asian voters.

The New York Times

Street children are also disproportionately affected by Ukraine's HIV epidemic.

The Guardian

Meanwhile, women have been disproportionately affected by the cuts.

The Guardian

Young Americans have been disproportionately affected by the current recession.

The New York Times

Mr. Osburn's group found that women were disproportionately affected by current policy.

The New York Times

In the UK, she calls the cuts that have disproportionately affected women "really deplorable".

The Guardian - Lifestyle

And the detours and roadblocks have disproportionately affected those who drive, including many blue-collar workers.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "disproportionately affected", clearly specify the group being affected and the cause of the impact to provide context and avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "disproportionately affected" without providing some context regarding the degree of disparity. Simply stating that a group is disproportionately affected without any comparative information weakens the statement's impact. For example, instead of saying "Women were disproportionately affected", say "Women, comprising 50% of the workforce, experienced 70% of the job losses."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "disproportionately affected" functions as a descriptor, highlighting that a specific group or entity experiences a notably greater impact than others. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it correctly describes a situation where an event or action impacts one group more significantly than others. For example, Ludwig showcases how minimum wage disparities disproportionately affect women.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

34%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Reference

0%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "disproportionately affected" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe situations where a particular group experiences a greater impact than others, often in a negative way. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correctly used to highlight imbalances and inequalities. Ludwig's analysis of numerous real-world examples demonstrates the phrase's prevalence across various domains, notably news media and scientific publications. When using "disproportionately affected", it's crucial to clearly identify the affected group and the cause of the impact to ensure clarity and maximize the statement's effectiveness. Consider using related phrases like "disproportionately impacted" or "bore the brunt of" to add nuance or emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

disproportionately impacted

Replaces "affected" with "impacted", a synonym, maintaining the overall meaning but potentially sounding slightly more forceful.

disproportionately afflicted

Focuses on suffering or hardship, suggesting a more severe or negative experience.

unevenly affected

Highlights the lack of uniformity in the distribution of the impact, focusing on the disparity.

unduly burdened

Highlights the unfairness or inappropriateness of the impact, adding a layer of injustice.

unduly impacted

Similar to "excessively burdened" but uses "impacted", indicating a significant influence.

adversely affected more than others

A more verbose but explicit way of stating the uneven distribution of negative consequences.

excessively burdened

Emphasizes the negative weight or difficulty experienced, shifting the focus to the strain caused.

experienced a greater burden

Shifts the focus to the concept of a "burden", suggesting hardship and responsibility.

bore the brunt of

An idiomatic expression indicating that one group suffered the worst effects.

hit hardest

A more direct and informal way of saying that one group suffered the most.

FAQs

What does "disproportionately affected" mean?

It means that a particular group or entity is impacted to a greater extent than others, often in a negative way. The effects are not evenly distributed across the population.

How can I use "disproportionately affected" in a sentence?

Example: "Low-income families are "disproportionately affected" by rising energy costs."

What are some alternatives to "disproportionately affected"?

You can use alternatives like "disproportionately impacted", "excessively burdened", or "bore the brunt of" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "disproportionately impacted" instead of "disproportionately affected"?

Yes, "disproportionately impacted" is often used as a synonym for "disproportionately affected". Both phrases convey the same general meaning, although some might perceive "impacted" as slightly more forceful.