on racial grounds

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "on racial grounds" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to refer to decisions or actions that are based on a person's race or ethnicity, often in discussions about discrimination or inequality. Example: "The company faced backlash for its decision to terminate employees on racial grounds, leading to protests and calls for policy changes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

The country seemed pessimistic and bitterly divided, on racial grounds even more than on economic ones.

The Economist

It was also one of the earliest comics to be censored on racial grounds (some skin tones and dialogue were changed for the American market).

Wikipedia

Senator Jesse Helms objected, without apology, on racial grounds.

The New Yorker

Some denied, on racial grounds, that Filipinos were owed the "protective" limits of "civilized warfare".

The New Yorker

In the 1970s Britain made it illegal to discriminate on racial grounds in employment or housing.

The Economist

Discrimination on racial grounds was widely prohibited but still persisted in South Africa.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

5 human-written examples

That blindness is never actually remedied in the film (at one point Elizabeth verbally attacks Dido about her "lower status" but bites her tongue before saying something blatantly racist), nor is it always remedied in our time, as white feminists so often attack women of color on decidedly racial grounds, the while claiming not to be racist.

Huffington Post

School violence on ethnic or racial grounds is a relevant problem in culturally diverse educational contexts.

Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences

But because of his toxic choice of words, Mr. Imus was called to account on sexual and racial grounds.

The New York Times

A resolution has been introduced to Congress calling for a presidential pardon for Johnson's 1913 conviction on trumped-up racial grounds.

The Guardian

The numbers from Pew show Americans are sharply divided on partisan and racial grounds in their attitudes toward voter access.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To strengthen the precision of your writing, consider alternatives such as "due to racial bias" or "because of racial discrimination" when you want to emphasize the specific reasons behind an action or decision, enriching the depth of the text.

Common error

Avoid using "on racial grounds" when the issue involves ethnicity or nationality, not just race. If the discrimination involves national origin, specify "on national origin grounds" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "on racial grounds" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate the reason or basis for an action, decision, or situation. As noted by Ludwig, it typically refers to decisions based on race or ethnicity.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Academia

15%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Science

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "on racial grounds" is a frequently used prepositional phrase that specifies the rationale for actions, particularly when race is a central factor. As Ludwig AI highlights, this phrase is typically employed when decisions are based on race or ethnicity. While its grammatical status is correct and it sees common use in news, academic and encyclopedia contexts, it's crucial to ensure precise use, differentiating between race and ethnicity, and understanding its negative implications related to discrimination. Consider alternative phrases like "based on race" or "due to racial factors" to add nuances in writing and avoid misinterpretations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

based on race

This is a more direct and concise way of saying the same thing.

due to racial factors

This phrase emphasizes the causal relationship between race and the action.

because of racial bias

This explicitly points to bias as the reason.

racially motivated

This highlights the motivation behind the action as being racial.

on the basis of race

This is a more formal and legalistic alternative.

with racial prejudice

This alternative underscores the prejudice involved.

owing to racial discrimination

This specifies the type of injustice involved.

grounded in racial animus

This emphasizes a deeper hostility based on race.

fueled by racial sentiments

This suggests that feelings about race are driving the issue.

predicated on racial stereotypes

This highlights that assumptions about race are the foundation.

FAQs

How can I use "on racial grounds" in a sentence?

You can use "on racial grounds" to describe actions or decisions that are based on someone's race. For example, "The company was accused of discrimination "on racial grounds" when it denied promotions to minority employees."

What are some alternatives to saying "on racial grounds"?

You can use alternatives like "based on race", "due to racial factors", or "because of racial bias depending on the context.

Is it always negative to make a decision "on racial grounds"?

While the phrase often implies discriminatory actions, it is crucial to consider the context. Affirmative action policies, for example, might consider race to address historical inequalities, although these are often contentious and subject to legal scrutiny.

What is the difference between "on racial grounds" and "on ethnic grounds"?

"On racial grounds" refers specifically to discrimination or decisions made because of a person's race. "On ethnic grounds" refers to discrimination or decisions made because of a person's ethnic origin, which includes cultural and national heritage, not just physical characteristics.