from certain backgrounds

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "from certain backgrounds" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to individuals or groups who come from specific social, cultural, or economic contexts. Example: "The scholarship program is designed to support students from certain backgrounds who may face financial challenges in pursuing higher education."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

For a long time I believed that only people from certain backgrounds could write.

The Guardian - Books

The evidence is unambiguous that selection disadvantages children from certain backgrounds.

The Guardian

Morgan said she "did not buy the argument" that people from certain backgrounds needed to do AS levels.

The Guardian

For example, questions should focus on competencies and strengths rather than environments that may only be familiar to people from certain backgrounds.

The Guardian

For years, the industry was only accessible to people from certain backgrounds, while others struggled to enter it or gain a foothold.

The Guardian

"I don't believe the profession is biased towards those who come from certain backgrounds, as long as these students have the necessary assistance they require when considering such a profession," says Clark, who will start a training contract in 2017.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

"Clearly, my dad came from a certain background and a certain time and built what he built from nothing," Pohlad says.

The New York Times - Magazine

He does come from a certain background, but he still has millions and I'm not sure he can think like someone who doesn't.

The Guardian

The increasing dominance of performers of a certain type, from a certain background, combined with the financial difficulties of developing and sustaining an acting career mean that the hard-up are gradually being faded out of the picture.

The Guardian - Opinion

For centuries, it functioned as a social rite of passage for people from a certain background — a place where young, well-to-do men learned about the world, discovered their passions, and had a little fun.

The New Yorker

Mr Gove said: "I don't think that we should say to children just because they come from a certain background that they shouldn't expect to have any understanding of this country's history or learn a foreign language".

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing social mobility or inequality, use "from certain backgrounds" to highlight systemic factors that influence opportunities.

Common error

Be careful not to overgeneralize or make assumptions about individuals based solely on their background. Focus on specific experiences and challenges rather than broad stereotypes.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "from certain backgrounds" functions as a prepositional phrase, modifying nouns or verbs to specify the origin or social context of individuals or groups. As Ludwig AI explains, it is used to denote that someone originates from a particular social, cultural, or economic environment.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "from certain backgrounds" is a versatile phrase used to indicate that individuals or groups originate from specific social, cultural, or economic contexts. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used in various fields, particularly in news, science, and formal business settings. While it's essential to avoid stereotyping and overgeneralization, using this phrase can help highlight systemic factors influencing opportunities. Alternatives include "from specific backgrounds" or "from particular backgrounds", offering subtle variations in emphasis. The phrase maintains a neutral register, making it suitable for diverse writing scenarios.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

From specific backgrounds

Replaces "certain" with "specific", indicating a more defined or particular set of backgrounds.

From particular backgrounds

Uses "particular" instead of "certain", emphasizing the distinctiveness of the backgrounds.

Of certain origins

Shifts the focus to origins rather than backgrounds, implying a starting point or ancestry.

Stemming from specific social strata

Emphasizes the social class or level from which individuals originate.

Coming from defined cultural environments

Highlights the cultural aspects of the backgrounds in question.

From diverse backgrounds

Focuses on the variety and range of different backgrounds.

Hailing from varied social circumstances

Uses "hailing from" to suggest origin and emphasizes different social circumstances.

With distinct socioeconomic roots

Highlights the socioeconomic factors that shape the backgrounds.

Born into differing walks of life

Emphasizes the different experiences and lifestyles associated with various backgrounds.

From underprivileged backgrounds

Focuses specifically on backgrounds characterized by disadvantage or hardship.

FAQs

How can I use "from certain backgrounds" in a sentence?

Use "from certain backgrounds" to indicate that individuals or groups originate from specific social, cultural, or economic contexts. For instance, "The program aims to support students "from certain backgrounds" who face financial challenges".

What's a good alternative to "from certain backgrounds"?

Alternatives include "from specific backgrounds", "from particular backgrounds", or "of certain origins" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "from diverse backgrounds" instead of "from certain backgrounds"?

"From diverse backgrounds" and "from certain backgrounds" have slightly different meanings. "From diverse backgrounds" emphasizes variety, while ""from certain backgrounds"" highlights specific contexts.

Which is more formal, "from certain backgrounds" or "stemming from specific social strata"?

"Stemming from specific social strata" is more formal and academic compared to the more general phrase ""from certain backgrounds"".