word choice - Is it "biased towards" or "biased against"?


I've come across both phrases for quite some time and I can't seem to distinguish the difference between both of them.


Suzy is biased towards Thomas.


Suzy is biased against Thomas.


In both cases, it is clear that Suzy holds something against Thomas; but what is the difference between "biased towards" and "biased against"? Is it the degree of bias or is it that both are acceptable?



Answer



Suzy is biased against Thomas can mean only that she has a prejudice against him. Suzy is biased towards Thomas is ambiguous. It can mean either that her attitude towards him is biased one way or another or that she is biased in favour of him. For that reason, it is perhaps best avoided.


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