underrepresented

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'underrepresented' is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use it to refer to individuals or groups who are not adequately represented in a given situation. For example, "Women are still underrepresented in certain areas of the workforce."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Opposed to Sparshott's view of the history of dance philosophy is Julie Van Camp, a philosopher who agrees that dance is underrepresented in philosophical aesthetics but who denies that it is has been quite as underrepresented as Sparshott claims.

SEP

Davies has "white, working-class" constituents who are underrepresented at the BBC.

The Guardian

Further compounding the issue is that marginalised groups do not have equal opportunities when it comes to political participation and are underrepresented in political decision-making within the legislative, executive and judicial authorities at all levels.

The Guardian

Whether or not this constitution is agreed upon, a new electoral system, relying on proportional representation for provincial lists, should ensure that Sunni Arabs, underrepresented in today's parliament because of their mass stay-away in January's general election, will have a stronger voice.The document to be voted on has flaws.

The Economist

Meanwhile men are rising through the ranks as qualifications gained long ago fade in importance and personality, ambition and experience come to matter more.The last bastionFor a long time it was said that since women had historically been underrepresented in university and work, it would take time to fill the pipeline from which senior appointments were made.

The Economist

Women, who are still underrepresented in the workforce, tend to do their own housework rather than outsource it, and many men are do-it-yourself enthusiasts.There is little doubt that long-term unemployment would have caused considerably more political uproar had the Federal Employment Agency not been there to smooth things over.

The Economist

American forces still share intelligence across the board, but have shifted many of their best people and units to Afghanistan.In particular, the Sunnis are still underrepresented within the intelligence services.

The Economist

Women are concentrated in teaching, health care, clerical work, social care and sales; they are underrepresented in manual and production jobs, maths, physics, science and engineering and in managerial jobs, particularly at the senior end.

The Economist

If the turnout in the referendum is anything to go by, the Sunnis will do very well in parliamentary elections scheduled for December 15th, thus putting them in a better position to negotiate than they were this year, heavily underrepresented in parliament.

The Economist

The council ruled that the constitution-drafting commission should be directly elected, perhaps as a sop to easterners who argued that they were underrepresented by the previously proposed allocation of seats in the commission.

The Economist

There is a relationship between population growth and productivity growth, but it is skill dependent, and the skills upon which it depends are very underrepresented in the migratory flows from the coasts to the Sunbelt.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing diversity and inclusion, use “underrepresented” to accurately describe groups lacking proportional representation in various sectors. This term is more precise and less stigmatizing than alternatives.

Common error

Avoid using "underrepresented" to imply that a group's contributions are less significant. Representation is about proportional presence, not inherent value.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "underrepresented" is as an adjective, modifying nouns to indicate a state of insufficient representation. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage, supported by numerous examples across varied sources.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Encyclopedias

24%

Science

18%

Less common in

Formal & Business

9%

Academic

5%

Reference

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "underrepresented" functions as an adjective denoting insufficient representation, commonly used in discussions related to diversity, equity and inclusion. Ludwig AI validates its correctness and widespread usage across diverse fields like news, encyclopedias, and scientific publications. While alternatives exist, "underrepresented" is often favored for its precision and neutrality. It is crucial to avoid misinterpreting "underrepresented" as an indicator of lesser importance, as it solely addresses proportional presence. When writing about this topic, be mindful of the context to maintain accuracy and avoid perpetuating harmful stereotypes.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

insufficiently represented

Focuses on the lack of adequate representation, maintaining a formal tone.

poorly represented

Emphasizes the inadequacy of representation, suggesting a lower quality of representation.

inadequately represented

Highlights the deficiency in representation, suitable for formal contexts.

scarcely represented

Indicates a minimal level of representation, implying rarity.

meagerly represented

Suggests a sparse or thin representation, emphasizing the small number or amount.

under-acknowledged

Shifts the focus to recognition, suggesting a lack of proper acknowledgment or consideration.

under-appreciated

Highlights a lack of proper appreciation or value, rather than direct representation.

marginalized

Focuses on the act of being pushed to the fringes or treated as less significant.

excluded

Implies a complete absence from representation or participation.

left out

A more informal way to express exclusion or lack of representation.

FAQs

How do you use "underrepresented" in a sentence?

"Underrepresented" describes a group lacking adequate representation. For instance, "Women are "underrepresented" in STEM fields" indicates that women's presence in these fields is disproportionately low.

What is a good alternative to "underrepresented"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "insufficiently represented", "poorly represented", or "inadequately represented". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it better to say "underrepresented" or "less represented"?

"Underrepresented" is generally preferred because it is more precise and widely recognized in discussions of diversity and inclusion. "Less represented" is acceptable but less specific.

What does it mean when a group is "underrepresented"?

When a group is "underrepresented", it means their proportion within a specific context, such as a profession or institution, is lower than their proportion in the overall population. This often points to systemic barriers or biases.