undue privilege

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "undue privilege" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where someone has an excessive or inappropriate advantage or benefit that is not justified. Example: "The committee's decision to grant him undue privilege raised concerns about fairness and transparency in the selection process."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

British people love to piss and moan about the House of Lords, how it's a vestige of this and undue privilege that and 1,000 years of arbitrary control and so on.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

The waivers granted to Halliburton have annoyed several members of Congress, who say the company has enjoyed undue privileges because of its former ties to Vice President Dick Cheney.

The New York Times

Secrecy is important to illegal activities, but also to morally illegitimate but legal activities that the elites engage in in order to enhance and preserve their undue privileges.

Huffington Post

OWS is not free of undue exercise of privilege or exclusion.

The Guardian - Opinion

In its pre-election demagogy, it also wanted to deal with the undue influence and privileges enjoyed by the Greek oligarchs and extend the tax base to sectors so far largely excluded, such as the shipping industry.

Independent

At the center of the legal dispute is whether the requirement that doctors have admitting privileges represents an "undue burden".

Los Angeles Times

How can we alleviate the issue of achieving privilege and also feeling undue discrimination?

Huffington Post

That ruling found that Texas — which had required abortion clinics to have surgical center-level facilities and abortion providers to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals — constituted an "undue burden" on women seeking abortions.

Vice

In three days of hearings before Judge Yeakel last week, lawyers for the state argued that it was impossible to know in advance how many clinics would have to close as a result of the admitting-privilege rule and that, in any case, the rule would not pose an "undue burden" on women seeking abortions, which would remain available in the state.

The New York Times

We asked respondents to give their opinions about physicians invoking the so-called therapeutic privilege, which allows them to withhold medical information from patients if they believe that disclosures will cause undue distress to these patients.

AJOB Empirical Bioethics

Undue influence?

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "undue privilege", ensure that the context clearly establishes why the privilege is considered excessive, inappropriate, or unjustified. Provide specific examples or evidence to support your claim.

Common error

Avoid using "undue privilege" without explaining why the privilege is considered inappropriate. Vague accusations can weaken your argument and make it difficult for readers to understand your point.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "undue privilege" functions as a noun phrase, where the adjective "undue" modifies the noun "privilege". It describes a state of having excessive or inappropriate advantages. As supported by Ludwig, this phrase is considered correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "undue privilege" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to describe excessive or inappropriate advantages. Ludwig's analysis shows that it is most frequently found in news and media contexts. When using the phrase, it is essential to provide specific context to clarify why the privilege is considered inappropriate. Alternatives include "unwarranted advantage" and "unjustified benefit". As noted by Ludwig, the phrase is a valid expression for discussing matters of fairness and inequality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unwarranted advantage

Focuses on the lack of justification for the benefit.

inappropriate advantage

Highlights the unsuitability or impropriety of the advantage.

unjustified benefit

Emphasizes the unfairness of the benefit.

excessive entitlement

Conveys a sense of exaggerated right or claim.

undeserved favouritism

Highlights the unfair preference given to someone.

unmerited advantage

Focuses on the lack of deservingness for the advantage.

illegitimate benefit

Suggests the benefit is not lawful or rightful.

unfair advantage

General term for an advantage that is not fair.

preferential treatment

Indicates biased treatment giving someone an edge.

special consideration

Implies a level of consideration beyond what is typical or fair.

FAQs

How can I use "undue privilege" in a sentence?

You can use "undue privilege" to describe situations where someone receives advantages or benefits that are excessive or inappropriate. For example, "The politician was accused of using his position to grant his family "undue privilege"".

What's the difference between "undue privilege" and "unfair advantage"?

"Undue privilege" often implies a systemic or institutional issue, while "unfair advantage" can refer to a more individual or isolated instance of advantage that isn't fair. Both describe inequitable situations, but "undue privilege" suggests a deeper, more entrenched problem.

Are there synonyms for "undue privilege" that I can use?

Yes, depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "unwarranted advantage", "inappropriate advantage", or "unjustified benefit".

In what contexts is it appropriate to use the term "undue privilege"?

The term "undue privilege" is appropriate in discussions about social justice, political corruption, economic inequality, and any situation where certain individuals or groups receive benefits or advantages that are not fairly earned or justified. It is also often seen in "news and media".