willful bias

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "willful bias" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a deliberate or intentional inclination or prejudice towards a particular perspective or outcome. Example: "The study was criticized for its willful bias, as the researchers only considered data that supported their hypothesis."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

And misfeasance becomes felony when the presentation of news is corrupted by bias, willful manipulation of evidence, unacknowledged conflict of interest -- or by a self-protective unwillingness to admit error.

The New York Times

That phone companies and ring-tone providers are paying attention to this trend is a change from what many in the Mexican music industry characterize as years of willful, often culturally biased neglect from marketing and advertising agencies.

The New York Times - Arts

The willingness to accept these numbers and choose to accept status quo is not unconscious bias but willful blindness.

Huffington Post

Rather than reflecting lack of validity, measurement bias, denial, or willful distortion, these phenomenological factors may reflect individual differences and intra-individual changes in internal standards, values, and meaning of QOL [ 1, 17].

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

It's our willful blindness - and cognitive biases - that make us all responsible for such bigotry.

Huffington Post

Is Wills's blindness willful?

The New York Times

Or, people will have a willful ignorance to it.

Forbes

I have developed the case previously that calls for abandoning all supplements were clearly the product of deep bias, preconceived notions, and either willful distortion of, or wanton disregard for, the relevant scientific evidence.

Huffington Post

Juries, for instance, are sometimes told to consider only whether discrimination was deliberate and willful (which may leave less room to consider unconscious biases), or whether an H.R. decision constituted discrimination or not (which leaves less room for considering situations in which discrimination was one factor, if not the only one).

The New Yorker

But from the duration of prison sentences and rates of conviction for non-violent offenses, to the disparities in application of the death penalty, to the hundreds of thousands of stops-and-frisks that are documented in New York each year, evidence of racial bias in our criminal justice system is impossible to overlook, absent willful blindness.

The Guardian - Opinion

No more willful blindness.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "willful bias", ensure the context clearly demonstrates intentionality or deliberate disregard for objectivity. Avoid using it when describing unconscious or unintentional biases.

Common error

Avoid using "willful bias" when the bias is not clearly intentional. Instead, consider using terms like "unconscious bias" or "implicit bias" if the prejudice is unintentional.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "willful bias" functions as a noun phrase, where "willful" modifies the noun "bias". As Ludwig AI indicates, it describes a specific kind of bias that is intentional or deliberate.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "willful bias" describes an intentional and deliberate form of prejudice, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It is grammatically correct but relatively rare, appearing primarily in news and media, scientific, and formal business contexts. When using this phrase, ensure the context clearly demonstrates intentionality. Alternatives include "deliberate prejudice" or "intentional distortion". While not as frequent as other forms of bias, understanding and identifying "willful bias" is crucial for critical analysis and objective reasoning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

deliberate prejudice

Emphasizes the intentional nature of the prejudice, highlighting a conscious choice to be biased.

intentional distortion

Focuses on the act of deliberately misrepresenting information to support a specific viewpoint.

conscious partiality

Highlights the awareness of the partiality, suggesting a deliberate choice to favor one side.

predetermined slant

Implies that the bias was established in advance, influencing subsequent perceptions and actions.

calculated unfairness

Stresses the calculated nature of the unfairness, suggesting a strategic and intentional bias.

purposeful skewing

Focuses on the act of intentionally distorting or slanting information.

designed prejudice

Highlights the deliberate design or construction of the prejudice.

motivated reasoning

Focuses on reasoning that is driven by pre-existing motivations and biases.

selective perception

Describes the process of noticing and focusing on information that confirms existing biases, while ignoring contradictory evidence.

confirmation bias

The tendency to favor information that confirms existing beliefs or biases.

FAQs

What does "willful bias" mean?

"Willful bias" refers to a deliberate and intentional prejudice or inclination towards a particular viewpoint, often involving a conscious disregard for objectivity.

How can I identify "willful bias" in a text or argument?

Look for evidence of selective information, misrepresentation of facts, or a consistent pattern of favoring one side without acknowledging alternative perspectives. The key is the intentional nature of the "intentional distortion".

What are some synonyms for "willful bias"?

Alternatives include "deliberate prejudice", "intentional distortion", or "conscious partiality", each emphasizing different aspects of intentional skewing.

How does "willful bias" differ from unconscious bias?

"Willful bias" is a deliberate and intentional act, whereas unconscious bias is unintentional and often stems from ingrained stereotypes or cognitive shortcuts. The presence of intent is the defining difference.