show partiality

USAGE SUMMARY

"show partiality" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when talking about giving preferential treatment to one group or individual over another, expressing favoritism. For example, "The judge showed partiality by ruling in favor of the wealthier party."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Nor must he show partiality or misplaced loyalty to those who have been responsible for a cynical charade.

The New York Times

It even quotes the Bible: "In Exodus, the people are instructed to deal with everyone fairly and never to show partiality to one group above another".

The Guardian - Opinion

In fact, there is no distinction if you believe Peter's words in the Acts of the Apostles: "I most certainly believe now that God is not one to show partiality, but in every nation the man who fears him and does what is right is welcome to him".

The New York Times

And there also seems to be no space for the consequentialist in which to show partiality to one's own projects or to one's family, friends, and countrymen, leading some critics of consequentialism to deem it a profoundly alienating and perhaps self-effacing moral theory (Williams 1973).

SEP

The God I serve does not show partiality.

Huffington Post

James 2 9: But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.

HuffPost

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

And though Kathy and I always got along well with her, she now blamed us for showing partiality during the legal wrangling.

The New York Times - Magazine

A few years ago, Italian winemakers noticed a new moth that was infesting the leaves of grapevines (it showed partiality to chardonnay, cabernet sauvignon and muscat grapes).

The New York Times - Science

So how exactly does the church square "never showing partiality", "dealing with everyone fairly" and "not insisting on their own rights at the expense of others" with discriminatory admissions and employment policies that prioritise church children over non-church attenders and refuse to allow non-Christians to apply for jobs?

The Guardian - Opinion

Yet Balestre had a bombastic and unpredictable streak which caused him some strife with the world's car makers, as a result of various seemingly arbitrary decisions by the sport's governing body, and there were also those who felt he showed partiality towards Alain Prost when the Frenchman was battling for his third world title against his McLaren team-mate Ayrton Senna in 1989.

The Guardian - Sport

If you're too close to a source, you need to "step back" and evaluate your writing and "must be especially wary of showing partiality".

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing legal or ethical matters, use "show partiality" to denote a lack of impartiality or fairness. For example, "The judge must not show partiality in the courtroom."

Common error

Avoid using "show partiality" when simply expressing a preference. "Partiality" implies unfair bias, not just a personal liking. Saying "I show partiality to vanilla ice cream" is incorrect; instead, say "I prefer vanilla ice cream".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "show partiality" functions primarily as a verb phrase expressing an action. It indicates the act of exhibiting bias or favoritism. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is correct and usable in written English, implying that it adheres to standard grammatical norms.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Academia

26%

Science

26%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "show partiality" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe the act of exhibiting bias or favoritism. It's most commonly found in news and media, academic writing, and scientific discussions. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. To avoid misuse, remember that "partiality" implies unfair bias, not just preference. Consider alternatives like "display favoritism" or "give preferential treatment" for nuanced expression. Be mindful of fairness and transparency to prevent accusations of "showing partiality" in your professional and personal life.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

give preferential treatment

This alternative explicitly describes the action of favoring one party over others and gives a more precise definition of what it means to show partiality.

display favoritism

Replaces "show" with "display" and "partiality" with "favoritism", both synonyms that maintain the meaning of biased preference.

favor one side

A more concise way to express the idea of taking a biased position, "favor one side" changes the structure and word choice.

demonstrate bias

"Demonstrate bias" shifts the focus slightly to the act of revealing a pre-existing preference, replacing "show partiality".

play favorites

An idiomatic expression describing favoritism, "play favorites" is more informal than "show partiality".

act with prejudice

Focuses on prejudiced actions, suggesting behavior influenced by bias, with "act with prejudice" being more descriptive of specific actions.

exhibit prejudice

This implies a preformed negative judgement, with "exhibit prejudice" suggesting a display of preconceived biases, where show partiality refers more generally to favoritism.

discriminate in favor

This explicitly mentions discrimination as the type of partiality being exhibited. Discriminate in favor of is a negative but precise form of showing partiality.

lean towards

Expresses a tendency to support one option, "lean towards" is less direct than "show partiality" but conveys a similar sense of inclination.

adopt a biased stance

This option emphasizes the conscious adoption of a biased position, differing slightly from the more passive implication of "show partiality".

FAQs

What does it mean to "show partiality"?

To "show partiality" means to exhibit bias or favoritism toward someone or something, often unfairly. It implies a lack of impartiality in judgment or treatment.

How can I avoid "showing partiality" in the workplace?

To avoid "showing partiality", treat all colleagues equally, base decisions on objective criteria, and be transparent in your processes. Regularly review your actions to identify any potential biases.

Which is correct, "show partiality to" or "show partiality towards"?

Both "show partiality to" and "show partiality towards" are grammatically correct and can be used interchangeably depending on the context.

What are some alternatives to "show partiality"?

You can use alternatives like "display favoritism", "give preferential treatment", or "demonstrate bias" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.