take a neutral stand

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "take a neutral stand" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to express the idea of staying out of a disagreement or conflict, or not taking sides. For example, "In the debate between the two political candidates, my goal is to take a neutral stand and focus on the issues."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

They feel as if this means JCPenney is somehow taking sides, and they want them to take a "neutral stand".

Huffington Post

American Girl doesn't highlight other sins in their magazine," the group wrote alongside a plea for people to boycott Mattel until they take a "neutral stand".

Huffington Post

After intense lobbying, supporters persuaded the California Medical Association, which had opposed prior efforts, to take a neutral stand, and the bill passed the state senate in June.

Huffington Post

In a 2006 survey of 1,004 Hong Kong journalists, the majority (58percentt) said that the media should "take a neutral stand" in the event of a conflict between Hong Kong and China.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

"That makes it highly unlikely that we would move to the next stage of the negotiations without the French government taking a neutral stand".

The New York Times

What these women are missing is that JCPenney is taking a "neutral" stand.

Huffington Post

The ICF describes functioning and disability as an interactive process and takes a neutral stand with regard to etiology.

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

Indeed, the ICF takes a neutral stand with regard to aetiology and allows researchers to arrive at causal inferences using appropriate scientific methods.

Clinical Rheumatology

"At least take a neutral viewpoint," Mr. Giuliani admonished this weekend.

The New York Times

Meanwhile, Fatah, the dominant party within the Palestine Liberation Organization PLOO) and the Palestinian Authority (PA), has been forced to take a neutral stance on the Syria conflict while also trying to stand up for the safety of Palestinians inside Syria.

Huffington Post

Would you condemn it or take a neutral stance?

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "take a neutral stand", ensure the context clearly explains why neutrality is important or beneficial. For instance, in negotiations, a mediator might "take a neutral stand" to facilitate fair discussions.

Common error

Avoid using "take a neutral stand" when the situation inherently requires an ethical or moral judgment. Remaining neutral in situations of injustice can be perceived as condoning the action.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "take a neutral stand" functions as a verb phrase indicating a decision or policy to remain impartial in a disagreement or conflict. It describes the action of deliberately avoiding taking sides, as supported by Ludwig AI's analysis.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "take a neutral stand" is a grammatically correct and usable expression for describing the act of remaining impartial in a dispute. As Ludwig AI suggests, it's most suitable when conveying objectivity and avoiding bias. While it appears most frequently in news and media contexts, it's important to consider the ethical implications of neutrality, ensuring it doesn't inadvertently support injustice. Alternatives like "remain impartial" or "avoid taking sides" can offer nuanced variations of the same concept.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

stay neutral

A shorter, more direct way of expressing the same concept.

avoid taking sides

Emphasizes the action of not choosing a side in a conflict or disagreement.

be unbiased

Highlights the state of being free from prejudice or bias.

remain impartial

Focuses on maintaining impartiality, emphasizing a lack of bias.

maintain objectivity

Focuses on the quality of being objective, unbiased by personal feelings or opinions.

adopt a non-aligned position

Highlights a lack of alignment with any particular side or group.

refrain from judgment

Emphasizes withholding judgment or opinion.

keep an open mind

Suggests a willingness to consider different viewpoints without pre-conceived notions.

sit on the fence

An idiomatic expression indicating indecision or unwillingness to commit to a side.

pursue a balanced approach

Highlights a commitment to fairness and equilibrium in considering different perspectives.

FAQs

How can I use "take a neutral stand" in a sentence?

You can use "take a neutral stand" to describe a position of impartiality. For example: "The mediator decided to "take a neutral stand" during the negotiations".

What are some alternatives to "take a neutral stand"?

Alternatives include phrases like "remain impartial", "stay neutral", or "avoid taking sides", each with slightly different nuances.

Is it always appropriate to "take a neutral stand"?

No, it's not always appropriate. In situations where there is a clear ethical or moral imperative, "taking a neutral stand" may be seen as inaction or tacit approval of wrongdoing.

What's the difference between "take a neutral stand" and "sit on the fence"?

"Take a neutral stand" suggests a deliberate choice to remain impartial, while "sit on the fence" often implies indecision or an unwillingness to commit to either side due to fear of consequences.