improper advantage

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "improper advantage" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where someone is gaining an unfair or unethical benefit from a situation. Example: "The company was accused of taking improper advantage of its monopoly to raise prices unfairly."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

21 human-written examples

The statue prohibits paying money or anything of value for the purpose of "securing any improper advantage".

The New York Times

The way the government has proceeded with the effort, the filing states, leaves "scant doubt that it is seeking to obtain just such an improper advantage at trial".

The New York Times

The Clinton campaign claimed irregularities by Mr. Obama's supporters who, Mrs. Clinton's aides said, sought to gain improper advantage in the caucuses.

The New York Times

According to reports in the state news media, the court's committee found that in the parliamentary elections, which the Brotherhood dominated, the candidates of organized parties had an improper advantage over independent candidates.

The New York Times

In 2007, the airline began investigating its passholders, to see if any were taking improper advantage of the programme.You can click through to the Times piece to find out the outcome of AA's investigation.

The Economist

At the heart of the S.E.C.'s investigation is the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, which essentially bans United States companies from giving "anything of value" to a foreign official to win "an improper advantage" in retaining business.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

39 human-written examples

The complaint asserts that the labor violations give China's producers an improper cost advantage of 10percentto77percentcent, depending on which economic model is used.

The New York Times

If the number of steering wheel mounted switches or their arrangement is improper, the advantage of using them may be diminished, and many operator errors may occur.

International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics

The tobacco companies that did settle contend that the states have given those that did not sign an improper market advantage, and they have been withholding part of the money they would otherwise be sending every year.

The New York Times

But those ambitions encountered some turbulence in September when regulators accused the bank of providing improper trading advantages to a hedge fund managed by a member of one of America's wealthiest families.

The New York Times

Smith informed the FSA he was looking for a new job in May last year, when it took steps to avoid any perception "of improper influence or advantage".

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing legal or ethical violations, use "improper advantage" to clearly convey the concept of an unfair or unlawful gain. This is particularly relevant in contexts such as corporate misconduct or political corruption.

Common error

Be careful not to use "improper advantage" when you actually mean a legitimate competitive edge gained through innovation or efficiency. "Improper advantage" always implies unethical or illegal means.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "improper advantage" functions primarily as a noun phrase, where "improper" modifies the noun "advantage". It describes a condition of gaining an unfair or unethical lead, typically in a competitive situation. Examples from Ludwig show it used in legal, business, and political contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "improper advantage" is a commonly used phrase that describes an unfair or unethical gain, often with legal or ethical implications. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is grammatically correct and predominantly appears in news, business, and academic contexts. When writing, ensure it is used to accurately convey the intended sense of an unfair or unlawful edge, distinguishing it from legitimate competitive benefits. Related phrases like "unfair gain" or "undue benefit" can be used as alternatives depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unfair gain

Focuses on the injustice of the advantage.

undue benefit

Emphasizes that the advantage is excessive or inappropriate.

illegitimate advantage

Highlights that the advantage is not lawful or rightful.

unjust enrichment

Implies that someone has unfairly gained wealth or resources.

wrongful advantage

Stresses the moral wrongness of the advantage.

inappropriate benefit

Highlights that the benefit is unsuitable in the specific context.

unmerited advantage

Suggests the advantage was gained without deserving it.

unethical gain

Focuses on the violation of ethical principles.

unwarranted advantage

Indicates the advantage lacks justification.

exploitative benefit

Emphasizes that the advantage was obtained by taking advantage of someone or something.

FAQs

How can I use "improper advantage" in a sentence?

You can use "improper advantage" to describe situations where someone gains an unfair or unethical benefit. For example, "The company was accused of gaining an improper advantage through bribery."

What's a good alternative to "improper advantage"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "unfair gain", "undue benefit", or "illegitimate advantage".

Is "improper advantage" a formal phrase?

Yes, "improper advantage" is suitable for formal contexts, especially when discussing legal or ethical issues. It is commonly used in news reports, academic papers, and business documents.

What distinguishes "improper advantage" from "unfair advantage"?

While both phrases suggest an unjust benefit, "improper advantage" often implies a violation of rules or laws, while "unfair advantage" can refer to situations that are unethical but not necessarily illegal.