unfair preference

USAGE SUMMARY

"unfair preference" is an appropriate phrase to use in written English.
It is used to refer to a situation where one person or group is favored over another in an unfair way. For example, "The government's decision to award the contract without open bidding seems like an unfair preference to the winning bidder's company."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

A claim by the New Jersey attorney general that American Express cardholders received unfair preference in buying tickets before the general public at the PNC Arts Center in Holmdel was dismissed last week by Judge Lawrence M. Lawson of state Superior Court.

The New York Times

The memorial of Chaplain Stockbridge, and a number of petitions from Baptist and Presbyterian organizations and other groups, make it pretty clear that there was not only a problem with naval officers requiring non-Episcopalian chaplains to perform Episcopalian services, but also an unfair preference for Episcopalians in the appointment of chaplains.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Issues covered include son preference, unfair treatment of girls in the family, their lesser access to health and education services, harmful traditional practices such as dowry and sexual harassment, as well as early marriage.

Unicef

Rejecting an unfair offer satisfies preferences for negative reciprocity because it punishes the proposer, depriving him of a larger amount.

Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences

Some point to the phenomenon of deformed preferences: when attractive options are limited or arrangements unfair, people may develop preferences for those limits or for less than their fair share (Nussbaum 1999a, 33, 50; Cudd 2006, 152).

SEP

Inflated tuition fees are a big worry; alumni preference looks unfair.

The Economist

This represents a lost opportunity for the Senate to vote on killing the government's unfair myriad of ethanol preferences.

Huffington Post

"It's fundamentally unfair because it's a preference that advantages the already advantaged," said Richard D. Kahlenberg, a senior fellow at the Century Foundation, a nonprofit research organization.

The New York Times

There was anger that the preference shown was unfair, even unlawful.

Science Magazine

We can promote both opportunity and diversity in higher education without using unfair and legally suspect racial preferences".

The New York Times

He thinks it unfair to poor whites that racial preferences designed to atone for slavery and segregation should be extended to virtually every other minority group.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing systemic issues, provide specific examples of the "unfair preference" to enhance clarity and impact. For example, you might state: "The company's hiring practices demonstrated an unfair preference for candidates from elite universities, overlooking qualified individuals from diverse backgrounds."

Common error

Avoid using "unfair preference" when describing something that is a legitimate requirement or necessity. "Unfair preference" implies a choice was made, not an obligation. For example, it would be incorrect to say a surgeon has an "unfair preference" for sterile equipment; this is a necessity, not a preference.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "unfair preference" functions as a noun phrase, where "unfair" modifies "preference". It identifies a specific type of preference characterized by injustice or inequity. As Ludwig AI explains, it's used when one person or group is favored unfairly.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "unfair preference" is a phrase used to describe situations where a bias or favoritism exists that is considered unjust. It is a grammatically correct and understandable phrase, although Ludwig indicates it is relatively rare in published writing. The phrase is employed across various domains, including news, business, and scientific contexts, suggesting a wide applicability. When using this phrase, it's crucial to provide context to justify why the preference is indeed "unfair". As noted in the guidance, do not use it when describing a necessity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

undue favoritism

Emphasizes the inappropriateness and excessiveness of the preference.

unjust bias

Highlights the lack of fairness and impartiality in the preference.

inequitable advantage

Focuses on the unequal and unfair benefit conferred by the preference.

discriminatory treatment

Underscores the act of treating someone worse than others because of prejudice.

partiality

Suggests a leaning towards one side without justifiable reason.

nepotism

Implies favoritism based on family relationship.

cronyism

Suggests favoritism towards friends and associates.

preferential treatment

A more neutral term that describes favouring one person or group over others.

biased selection

Highlights the bias present during the selection process.

inequitable distribution

Emphasizes the uneven distribution of resources or opportunities.

FAQs

How can I use "unfair preference" in a sentence?

You can use "unfair preference" to describe situations where someone is favored over others without justification. For example: "The selection process showed an unfair preference for internal candidates."

What's a good substitute for "unfair preference"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "undue favoritism", "unjust bias", or "inequitable advantage".

What's the difference between "unfair preference" and "preferential treatment"?

"Preferential treatment" is a more neutral term describing favoring one person or group over another, while "unfair preference" implies that this favoring is unjust or biased.

Is "unfair preference" a formal or informal phrase?

"Unfair preference" can be used in both formal and informal contexts, though it's most common in news, business, and academic writing.