shred of integrity

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "shred of integrity" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a very small amount of honesty or moral principle that someone possesses, often in a context where integrity is being questioned. Example: "After the scandal, it was hard to believe he had even a shred of integrity left."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

With that gimmick, the movie sacrifices its last shred of integrity.

The New York Times

"If Bishop Murphy had a shred of integrity, he already would have been on Brian's phone, on my phone," Mr. Salveson said.

The New York Times

As Mote's sentence was less than a year he was permitted to keep his seat in the European parliament, something Nigel Farage condemned, saying: "If Mote had a shred of integrity left, he'd resign".

The Guardian

To my mind, the only approach that retains a shred of integrity is to admit with ruthless candour: I eat this because my pursuit of pleasure trumps the wellbeing, comfort and rights, such as they are, of this animal.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Mr. Kitano often plays around with the theme of the only man left on earth with a shred of integrity -- a Gary Cooper who shoots first -- and in "Brother" he's so distanced that he barely speaks; he has no dialogue in the first five minutes of the film.

The New York Times

He had no case and lost any shred of integrity he had left.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

Some teensy weensy shred of educational value?

The New Yorker

"Kossacks" brutally crushing any shred of resistance.

The Guardian

You have at least a shred of dignity after all.

WikiHow

As NRDC Executive Director Peter Lehner wrote in a letter to BP's Tony Hayward, if the company wants to salvage any shred of scientific integrity, it should give the money to an independent entity, like the National Academy of Sciences.

Huffington Post

Shredding of PE-MP hybrid assemblies (which had better summary statistics) achieved better results as compared with shredding of PE only assemblies.

Bioinformatics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "shred of integrity", consider the impact of stronger or weaker synonyms like "iota" or "semblance" to fine-tune the degree of doubt you're conveying about someone's moral character.

Common error

Avoid assuming that "shred of integrity" implies total lack of integrity. It suggests a very small amount remains, not necessarily a complete absence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "shred of integrity" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the object of a verb or preposition. It quantifies the abstract concept of integrity, suggesting a minimal or questionable amount. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Wiki

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "shred of integrity" is a noun phrase that suggests a very small amount of honesty or moral principle is present, often implying a degree of skepticism or doubt. As Ludwig AI notes, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in a variety of contexts, though it's most frequently found in news and media sources. While related phrases like "iota of integrity" or "semblance of integrity" offer nuanced variations in meaning, it's important to remember that "shred of integrity" does not necessarily denote a complete absence of integrity, but rather a minimal amount.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

iota of integrity

Replaces "shred" with "iota", suggesting an extremely small amount of integrity.

ounce of integrity

Substitutes "shred" with "ounce", providing a slightly more tangible sense of a small quantity.

scintilla of integrity

Uses "scintilla" instead of "shred", implying a tiny spark or trace of integrity.

vestige of integrity

Replaces "shred" with "vestige", suggesting a remaining trace of integrity that is disappearing.

hint of integrity

Substitutes "shred" with "hint", suggesting a subtle indication of integrity.

semblance of integrity

Uses "semblance" instead of "shred", implying an outward appearance of integrity, possibly without substance.

degree of integrity

Replaces "shred" with "degree", suggesting a measurable level of integrity.

fragment of integrity

Substitutes "shred" with "fragment", indicating a broken or incomplete piece of integrity.

element of integrity

Uses "element" instead of "shred", referring to a basic component of integrity.

a bit of integrity

Replaces "shred" with "a bit", offering a more colloquial alternative.

FAQs

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

You can use "shred of integrity" to express that someone possesses a very small amount of honesty or moral principle. For example, "After the scandal, it was hard to believe he had even a "shred of integrity" left."

What can I say instead of "shred of integrity"?

You can use alternatives like "iota of integrity", "ounce of integrity", or "semblance of integrity" depending on the context.

What's the difference between "shred of integrity" and "lack of integrity"?

"Shred of integrity" implies that some small amount of integrity still exists, while "lack of integrity" suggests a complete absence of it.

Is "shred of integrity" a formal or informal expression?

"Shred of integrity" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, but it's most commonly found in news and media.