ill advantage

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "ill advantage" is not an idiom or a correct phrase to use in written English.
Instead, you would use the phrase "ill-gotten gains" to refer to advantages that have been obtained illicitly or unethically. For example: "The corrupt politician used his ill-gotten gains to purchase a luxurious summer home."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

One painting depicts a crowd of creatures who appear to be in hell, but who seem determined to extract as much sexual pleasure as they can from their eternity of free time; Mr. Ledger has turned another one around and hung it upside down, to no apparent ill advantage.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

In John Lardner's "That Was Pugilism," in the issue of Dec. 9, 1950, he stated that James A. Farley was elected to succeed Brower as chairman of the Boxing Commission at a time when Brower was ill and advantage was taken of his absence.

The New Yorker

Arthur Levitt, chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission, has fought consistently to strip Wall Street insiders of ill-gotten advantage.

The New York Times

Another few billion of supposed ill-gotten advantage is from Dubai assumption of a $2.4 billion fuel hedging loss by Emirates.

Huffington Post

In critically ill patients, the advantage of a prolonged period of pre-oxygenation has not been clearly demon¬strated.

Critical Care

He then exploited his ill-gotten informational advantage by purchasing securities in the market.

Cornell University

Then, on the road from Senftenberg to Spremberg, which is packed with horses and carts full of refugees, the two of them, in the same field-gray battle dress yet so ill-matched, take advantage of the crush to negotiate purchase of an official document, life-giving marching orders, at an improvised assembly point, which is out in the open at the side of the road and consists of a table and a stool.

The New Yorker

According to many officials I spoke to, the Administration was ill prepared to take advantage of the situation and unwilling to reassess its relationship with Assad's government.

The New Yorker

Less advantaged and more traditional segments of society are not only less exposed to sources of innovation but are also ill positioned to take advantage of them.

BMC Public Health

The high negative predictive value of PCT for detection of Candida spp. by either BC or PCR may represent a useful tool to exclude the presence of candidemia and guide the antifungal treatment regimens in critically ill patients, with the advantage, among others, of costs reduction.

BMC Anesthesiology

But the book industry seems ill-prepared to take advantage of many of the new worlds the iPad opens up.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "ill advantage" in formal writing. Opt for more common and grammatically correct alternatives such as "unfair advantage" or "ill-gotten gains" to ensure clarity and credibility.

Common error

A common mistake is to use "ill" as a general descriptor of something negative related to an advantage. Remember that "ill" typically modifies nouns related to health or well-being. When describing an advantage, use adjectives like "unfair", "unjust", or "improper" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ill advantage" functions as a noun phrase where "ill" attempts to modify "advantage." However, this construction is not standard English, as confirmed by Ludwig AI, which suggests alternative phrasing.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "ill advantage" is not considered grammatically correct or standard English. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's better to use alternatives like "unfair advantage" or "ill-gotten gains" depending on the intended meaning. While sources like The New York Times and The Guardian appear in the examples, the limited usage and grammatical issues suggest avoiding this phrase in favor of more established alternatives for clarity and correctness. Consider using more appropriate adjectives such as unfair, undue, improper, or unjustified to modify "advantage".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unfair advantage

Replaces "ill" with "unfair", highlighting the lack of justice or equity.

improper advantage

Replaces "ill" with "improper", suggesting a violation of rules or standards.

inappropriate advantage

Uses "inappropriate" to generally describe the advantage as unsuitable or out of place.

undue advantage

Replaces "ill" with "undue", emphasizing inappropriateness or excessiveness.

unwarranted advantage

Replaces "ill" with "unwarranted", indicating the advantage is not justified or deserved.

unjustified advantage

Replaces "ill" with "unjustified", focusing on the lack of a legitimate basis.

wrongful advantage

Replaces "ill" with "wrongful", emphasizing the ethical or moral violation.

exploitative advantage

Uses "exploitative" to specify that the advantage comes from exploiting someone or something.

ill-gotten gains

Shifts the focus to the benefits obtained unfairly rather than the advantage itself, referring to the proceeds acquired through illicit means.

unearned benefit

Replaces "advantage" with "benefit" and "ill" with "unearned", stressing the lack of deservedness.

FAQs

Is "ill advantage" grammatically correct?

No, the phrase "ill advantage" is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. It's better to use phrases like "unfair advantage" or, when referring to gains, "ill-gotten gains".

What's a more appropriate way to say "ill advantage"?

Alternatives include "unfair advantage", "improper advantage", or "unjustified advantage", depending on the context. If you're referring to something gained, use "ill-gotten gains".

How does "ill advantage" differ from "ill-gotten gains"?

"Ill advantage" is not standard usage. "Ill-gotten gains" refers specifically to profits or benefits obtained illegally or unethically, while the concept of simply having an "advantage" often refers to situational benefits.

Can I use "ill advantage" in formal writing?

It's best to avoid "ill advantage" in formal writing. Opt for established phrases like "unfair advantage" or "ill-gotten gains" for clarity and to maintain a professional tone.