prone to manipulation

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "prone to manipulation" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone or something that is easily influenced or controlled by external factors. Example: "The data collected from the survey was prone to manipulation, leading to skewed results."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

24 human-written examples

LeadNow, a special interest group prone to manipulating the public through political advertisements financed by unknown donors, warns that a referendum would be "a risky and divisive process prone to manipulation by the mass media and fear-mongering by corporate and special interests".

Vice

Some critics argue, however, that such systems are unnecessarily complicated and prone to manipulation.

The New York Times

In fact, this market is opaque, often illiquid, and prone to manipulation.

The Economist

Privatisations and public-private partnerships became common, and prone to manipulation.

The Economist

Among regulators, sentiment has been building for a simpler measure known as a leverage ratio, which supporters say is less prone to manipulation by banks.

The New York Times

But Clever uses additional information that is very prone to manipulation — or spam — by people trying to mislead the search engine for commercial gain".

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

36 human-written examples

The report criticized the present legislative and regulatory framework as "arbitrary, non-transparent and prone to manipulations," and recommended a competitive bidding process for the allocation and pricing of natural resources, Tehelka wrote.

The New York Times

The "process has faced criticism because it concentrates price discovery in a small assessment time window, perhaps making it more prone to potential manipulation," Mr. Bruce said.

The New York Times

Evidence exists that amphibian host responses to ranavirus are predominantly acquired (9 ); those for B. dendrobatidis may be more innate and less prone to environmental manipulation (10 ).

Emerging Infectious Diseases

Post - mortem DNA damage limits our ability to access ancient DNA (aDNA) sequences and increases the risk of exogenous modern contamination, as undamaged DNA molecules are more prone to enzymatic manipulation.

Bioinformatics

For gene technology, the gene concept is typically illustrated as prone to isolation and manipulation.

Life Sciences, Society and Policy

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "prone to manipulation", clearly identify what or who is susceptible and the potential consequences. This provides context and strengthens your argument.

Common error

Avoid using "prone to manipulation" without sufficient evidence. Overstating vulnerability can weaken your credibility and create unnecessary alarm. Provide concrete examples or logical reasoning to support your claim.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "prone to manipulation" functions as an adjective phrase, modifying a noun to indicate a susceptibility or tendency towards being manipulated. As shown in Ludwig's examples, it's used to describe various subjects, from data to systems, highlighting their vulnerability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

38%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "prone to manipulation" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to describe a susceptibility to being unfairly influenced or controlled. As Ludwig AI confirms, it appears frequently in news, scientific, and formal business contexts. Alternatives such as "vulnerable to manipulation" or "susceptible to manipulation" offer similar meanings, though the specific nuance may vary. When using this phrase, it's important to provide context and evidence to support your claim and avoid overstating the vulnerability. Its frequent appearance in authoritative sources underscores its relevance in discussions of risk, security, and ethical considerations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

vulnerable to manipulation

Replaces "prone" with "vulnerable", emphasizing a state of being easily harmed or exploited through manipulation.

susceptible to manipulation

Substitutes "prone" with "susceptible", highlighting a predisposition to being affected by manipulation.

easily manipulated

Focuses on the ease with which something or someone can be manipulated, omitting "prone to".

open to manipulation

Emphasizes accessibility and lack of protection against manipulation, replacing "prone to" with "open to".

liable to be manipulated

Indicates a higher probability of being manipulated, using "liable to be" instead of "prone to".

subject to manipulation

Highlights the state of being under the influence or control of manipulation, swapping "prone to" for "subject to".

at risk of manipulation

Emphasizes the danger or potential harm from manipulation, changing "prone to" to "at risk of".

inclined to be manipulated

Suggests a natural tendency toward being manipulated, replacing "prone" with "inclined".

easily influenced

Focuses on the ease of influence, a key component of manipulation, omitting "prone to" and "manipulated".

susceptible to influence

Similar to "easily influenced", but emphasizes a predisposition to being affected by external influences, including manipulation.

FAQs

How can I use "prone to manipulation" in a sentence?

Use "prone to manipulation" to describe something easily influenced or controlled. For example, "The data was "prone to manipulation", leading to inaccurate conclusions."

What's a good alternative to "prone to manipulation"?

Alternatives include "vulnerable to manipulation", "susceptible to manipulation", or easily influenced. The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it better to say "prone to manipulation" or "easily manipulated"?

"Prone to manipulation" implies a tendency, while "easily manipulated" suggests a current state. Choose the phrase that best reflects the specific situation you are describing.

What does it mean when something is described as "prone to manipulation"?

It means that the subject is likely to be influenced or controlled unfairly or dishonestly. This could be due to inherent weaknesses, lack of oversight, or external pressures.