shred of decency

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "shred of decency" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation or person that lacks any moral integrity or ethical behavior. Example: "After witnessing his actions, I wondered if he had even a shred of decency left in him."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

I believe that if Rebekah Brooks had a single shred of decency, she would now resign.

The Guardian - Opinion

"If you have a shred of decency, Mr. President, let us leave the Senate," Collins said.

The New Yorker

Doubt sets in when she is sent to assassinate a farmer (Parmeshwaran) in whom she finds a shred of decency.

The New York Times

Or, at the very least, to be despised as a human being without a shred of decency or goodness.

The Guardian

Not that the other workers have it easy: "Every Twelve Seconds" shatters any belief you might have about the system treating animals with a shred of decency.

The New York Times

"Michael Baird, if you have one shred of decency in your hypocritical body, withdraw the [greyhound] legislation and start again," Jones had thundered in September.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

I. Sidewalk Umbrelliquette In which the great ungoverned territory of stormy urban sidewalks is given some shreds of decency.

Huffington Post

Do we still have a shred of our decency intact in the face of debasement?

The Guardian - Opinion

It was his day, a day for dreamers who seek a shred of common decency and dignity in the old game.

Independent

There's nothing worse than demanding people be "correct" in their speech or actions, and by being "correct" Texas Governor Rick Perry means showing the tiniest shred of human decency when dealing with each other.

The Guardian - Opinion

Even after the department recommended Abdellatif be permitted to apply for a visa, the then immigration minister Scott Morrison, in keeping with his ruthless determination to shred this aspect of government policy of any shred of human decency, refused to grant him permission to do so.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When criticizing actions, use "shred of decency" to emphasize the complete absence of moral consideration, highlighting the severity of the ethical failure.

Common error

Avoid assuming that someone possesses a "shred of decency" when their past behavior indicates otherwise. Base your assessment on evidence rather than wishful thinking.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "shred of decency" functions as a noun phrase expressing a lack of moral or ethical behavior. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage. It is often used to criticize actions or question someone's moral compass.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "shred of decency" is a commonly used noun phrase that expresses a severe lack of moral integrity or ethical behavior. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent use in news and media contexts. Related phrases, such as "iota of morality" and "ounce of integrity", offer nuanced alternatives to express similar sentiments. When using this phrase, ensure your assessment of someone's character or actions is evidence-based and avoids overgeneralization.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

iota of morality

Replaces "decency" with "morality" and "shred" with "iota", emphasizing a tiny amount of moral principle.

ounce of integrity

Substitutes "decency" with "integrity" and "shred" with "ounce", focusing on honesty and strong moral principles.

vestige of compassion

Changes "decency" to "compassion" and "shred" to "vestige", highlighting a trace of empathy or concern for others.

hint of ethics

Replaces "decency" with "ethics" and "shred" with "hint", suggesting a slight indication of moral principles guiding behavior.

semblance of honor

Substitutes "decency" with "honor" and "shred" with "semblance", focusing on outward appearance or imitation of respectable behavior.

spark of goodness

Changes "decency" to "goodness" and "shred" to "spark", emphasizing a small amount of inherent virtue.

trace of kindness

Replaces "decency" with "kindness" and "shred" with "trace", underscoring minimal demonstration of friendly, generous, or considerate behavior.

drop of humanity

Substitutes "decency" with "humanity" and "shred" with "drop", highlighting a very small quantity of humaneness or benevolence.

fragment of morality

Changes "shred" to "fragment", emphasizing a broken or incomplete aspect of moral principles.

speck of righteousness

Replaces "decency" with "righteousness" and "shred" with "speck", focusing on a tiny amount of moral uprightness or justification.

FAQs

How can I use "shred of decency" in a sentence?

You can use "shred of decency" to express the lack of moral behavior in someone or something, as in "If he had a "shred of decency", he would apologize for his actions."

What is a synonym for "shred of decency"?

Synonyms for "shred of decency" include phrases like "iota of morality", "ounce of integrity", or "vestige of compassion", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "shred of decency" in formal writing?

Yes, "shred of decency" is appropriate for use in formal writing when you want to express the absence of moral integrity or ethical behavior. However, consider your audience and the overall tone of your writing to ensure it aligns with your intended message.

What's the difference between "shred of decency" and "semblance of decency"?

"Shred of decency" implies a complete lack of genuine moral integrity, whereas "semblance of decency" suggests an outward appearance or imitation of respectable behavior without true underlying moral principles.