influence unfairly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "influence unfairly" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when discussing situations where someone's influence leads to an unjust or biased outcome. Example: "The manager was accused of trying to influence unfairly the hiring process." Alternative expressions include "manipulate unjustly" and "sway improperly."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

His critics maintained that he used that influence unfairly for the benefit of his business interests.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

In a lawsuit filed last fall, the Fox News Channel, part of the News Corporation, accused his firm of using its influence to unfairly benefit Fox News's rival, CNN, a unit of AOL Time Warner.

The New York Times

"In no way did any individuals unfairly influence the outcome of the competition".

The New York Times

Mr. Bremer tried to allay concerns that the interim constitution would unfairly influence the drafting of a permanent charter.

The New York Times

I asked about the idea that some had raised online, that a "Serial" season on Bergdahl would be overly sympathetic and would unfairly influence his fate.

The New Yorker

They argued that the news media frenzy surrounding the government's investigation of SAC and its owner, Steven A. Cohen, could unfairly influence the jury pool.

The New York Times

The appeals court did not question the article's accuracy, but was rather suggesting it could appeal to the emotions and prejudices of jurors in a way that could unfairly influence their verdict.

The New York Times

Google said there were no "remaining violations" that would unfairly influence what shows up for a search of, say, "browser," but it will be demoting Chrome's results for 60 days, the blog reported.

The New York Times

But this is unlikely, as the umpire's tasks in baseball allow many fewer opportunities to unfairly influence the outcome of a game than a referee's in basketball.

The New York Times

The show broadcasts an on-screen statement at the end of each episode warning that blocks of votes cast using "technical enhancements" that unfairly influence the outcome of voting can be thrown out.

The New York Times

The changes — requested by Google, the designer of the Chrome browser, Mozilla, the creator of Firefox, and Opera — aim to ensure that Microsoft does not unfairly influence the decision, said Hakon Wium Lie, the chief technology officer of Opera, based in Oslo.

The New York Times - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "influence unfairly", specify the area or process being affected. For example, "influence unfairly the election results" provides greater clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "influence unfairly" without indicating what is being influenced. Saying someone "influenced unfairly" is incomplete; clarify what they influenced, such as "influenced unfairly the jury's decision."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "influence unfairly" functions as a verb phrase, specifically a verb followed by an adverb. It describes the action of exerting influence in an unjust or inappropriate manner. As Ludwig AI indicates, this usage is grammatically sound and reflects real-world language use.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

87%

Wiki

6%

Science

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "influence unfairly" is a grammatically sound verb phrase used to describe the improper exertion of influence, often in a way that is considered unethical or unjust. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is a valid phrase with real-world usage. It is most frequently encountered in news and media contexts, with neutral tone. When using this phrase, it is beneficial to specify what exactly is being influenced to provide greater clarity. Alternatives such as ""unduly sway"" or "improperly manipulate" can be used to add nuance or formality depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unduly sway

Replaces "influence" with "sway" and adds "unduly" to emphasize inappropriateness.

improperly manipulate

Substitutes "influence" with "manipulate" and "unfairly" with "improperly" to highlight the unethical aspect.

unjustly bias

Uses "bias" instead of "influence" to focus on the creation of prejudice and replaces "unfairly" with "unjustly."

dishonestly affect

Replaces "influence" with "affect" and "unfairly" with "dishonestly" to emphasize deceit.

corruptly persuade

Emphasizes the corrupt nature of the influence, using "persuade" as a substitute.

exert undue pressure

Focuses on the exertion of pressure as the method of unfair influence.

exploit leverage

Highlights the exploitation of existing power dynamics to influence unfairly.

abuse authority

Focuses on the abuse of authority to achieve unfair influence.

rig the outcome

Emphasizes the intent to predetermine a result through unfair influence.

tilt the scales

Uses a metaphor to describe creating an imbalance through unfair influence.

FAQs

How can I use "influence unfairly" in a sentence?

You can use "influence unfairly" to describe actions that improperly affect outcomes. For example, "The lobbyist was accused of attempting to "unduly sway" the vote through campaign contributions".

What's a more formal way to say "influence unfairly"?

In formal contexts, consider using phrases like "improperly manipulate" or "unjustly bias" to maintain a professional tone.

Which is correct, "influence unfairly" or "unfairly influence"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but "influence unfairly" is generally preferred when you want to emphasize the manner of influencing, while "unfairly influence" emphasizes the type of influence. The meaning, however, remains nearly identical.

What are the ethical implications of actions that "influence unfairly"?

Actions that "influence unfairly" typically involve a breach of ethics, suggesting an attempt to "corruptly persuade" or "dishonestly affect" a decision or outcome, often for personal gain or advantage.