English Language Discussion Forums


Go Back   UsingEnglish.com ESL Forum > Learning English > Ask a Teacher

Quick Links
Sites for Teachers



Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 02-Jul-2009, 20:09
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Country: india
Posts: 68
Current Location: bpl
First Language: hindi
Member Type: Student or Learner
razer is an unknown quantity at this point
Default Towards, against and bias!! Confusion!

Bias against or bias towards what r the meanings of these two terms ? Is bias against mean: u r against somebody b'coz of pre set mindset and bias towards mean: u r in the favor of it ?

Would it be right to say : I have bias towards truth ? Means I'm inclined towards truth.

Last edited by razer; 02-Jul-2009 at 20:35.
Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links
  #2  
Old 03-Jul-2009, 12:53
konungursvia's Avatar
Key Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Country: Canada
Posts: 2,300
Current Location: Toronto
First Language: English
Member Type: Academic
konungursvia is a splendid one to beholdkonungursvia is a splendid one to beholdkonungursvia is a splendid one to beholdkonungursvia is a splendid one to beholdkonungursvia is a splendid one to beholdkonungursvia is a splendid one to beholdkonungursvia is a splendid one to behold
Default Re: Towards, against and bias!! Confusion!

The first part is correct. But no one would say a bias towards the truth, a bias is only in subjective matters of opinion. To claim a bias toward the truth is like claiming superior argumentation or reasoning ability, along with superior knowledge, i.e. it stifles debate and dismisses others' rights to have their opinions.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 03-Jul-2009, 12:55
nyota's Avatar
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Country: Poland
Posts: 45
Current Location: Poland
First Language: Polish
Member Type: Student or Learner
nyota is an unknown quantity at this point
Post Re: Towards, against and bias!! Confusion!

It seems you've already got some answers ^^

Meaning of bias against or bias towards

Bias Towards/Against - WordReference Forums
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 03-Jul-2009, 19:41
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Country: india
Posts: 68
Current Location: bpl
First Language: hindi
Member Type: Student or Learner
razer is an unknown quantity at this point
Default Re: Towards, against and bias!! Confusion!

"But no one would say a bias towards the truth, a bias is only in subjective matters of opinion."

-----------------------------------------------
konungursvia are you 100 % sure on this ? Because another English teacher in one forum told me it "may" be correct to say that but its usage is "rare". What you and other senior member say ?

If you want I can share that link with you.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 03-Jul-2009, 21:11
konungursvia's Avatar
Key Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Country: Canada
Posts: 2,300
Current Location: Toronto
First Language: English
Member Type: Academic
konungursvia is a splendid one to beholdkonungursvia is a splendid one to beholdkonungursvia is a splendid one to beholdkonungursvia is a splendid one to beholdkonungursvia is a splendid one to beholdkonungursvia is a splendid one to beholdkonungursvia is a splendid one to behold
Default Re: Towards, against and bias!! Confusion!

It's like saying "I have a bias towards always being right, and I notice you are not as right as often as I am." Also, debates are for opinions, not facts, and no one can claim a superior opinion, or a more truthful one.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 04-Jul-2009, 16:20
Editor, UsingEnglish.com
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Country: UK
Posts: 27,035
Current Location: Phnom Penh
First Language: English
Member Type: English Teacher
Tdol has disabled reputation
Default Re: Towards, against and bias!! Confusion!

Quote:
Originally Posted by razer View Post
"But no one would say a bias towards the truth, a bias is only in subjective matters of opinion."

-----------------------------------------------
konungursvia are you 100 % sure on this ? Because another English teacher in one forum told me it "may" be correct to say that but its usage is "rare". What you and other senior member say ?

If you want I can share that link with you.
You are mixing two questions. Konungursvia's answer was about whether you could be biased towards truth and not whether it was a countable or uncountable noun. The teacher in the other forum was answering about whether the noun bias was countable or uncountable.

In one of your posts in the other forum I notice that you say 'uncountable singular noun', which is inaccurate; uncountable cannot be counted- we cannot say 1 or use the indefinite article with them.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On



New To Site? Need Help?

All times are GMT. The time now is 11:50.


vBulletin, Copyright ©2000 - 2009, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.3.0
Copyright © 2002 - 2009 UsingEnglish.com