Am I Biased or Bias? Which is correct? 

If you are unsure how to use the term in standard American English, the question “am I biased?” is the one you should ask yourself. The explanation for this is quite simple: prejudiced is an adjective, but bias is a noun. Because persons are nouns, they should never be referred to as adjectives under any circumstances. One can be prejudiced or have a bias in the English language, but they cannot simply be bias. One can, however, be biased.  

Keep reading to find out more about the definition of being biased, as well as how to use the terms biased and being biased in a sentence, and some examples of its use.

Etymology and Definition of Bias

Between the years 1560 and 1570, the term “bias” was first used in its contemporary sense to refer to a set of unevenly weighted balls that were used in a traditional game. The meaning of the term eventually came to imply having biased thinking.

The definition of bias provided by the Oxford English Dictionary states that it is the quality of being extremely prejudiced against a group, person, or object in favor of something or someone else. Being biased almost always involves having a closed mind, being inflexible, or treating people unfairly.

Biased or Bias?

The term prejudiced refers to an adjective, which is a word that defines a noun. The term bias, on the other hand, is a noun. Due to the fact that prejudice is a descriptor, it cannot be substituted for a noun and still maintain its status as grammatically acceptable usage. You or other people can be biased, or you can have a bias, but you cannot do both ways.

Example Usage of Bias and Biased

Though they are closely related words, bias and biased are two different types of word parts. Here are a few examples of correct and incorrect usage of both words.

Correct: Am I biased for thinking cats are far superior to dogs?

Incorrect: Am I bias for thinking cats are far superior to dogs?

Correct: I have an extreme bias toward people I perceive to be unkind.

Incorrect: I have an extreme biased toward people I perceive to be unkind.

Correct: She is biased against people who can swim because she never learned.

Incorrect: She is bias against people who can swim because she never learned.