"There was no easy or obvious way to rank by pure merit," he remarks in a typically acute observation.
First, because the world works more on insiderism and inherited privilege than on "pure merit," whatever that might be.
Setting controversies aside, he spoke out to his police community that his selection was not based on any undue influence but on pure merit.
The center realizes that the President-elect will not operate in a system in which he can make his appointments on the basis of pure merit.
On the pure merits of this case, the president is right.
It's pure merit, and the boy asks if his family will qualify!
This is the only part of the process based on pure merit.
Barns was pleased to discover one publisher for whom "pure merit" determined the outcome.
Originally belonging to the kshatriya caste of kings and warriors, he rose by pure merit to a Brahmarishi.
On pure merit, we give a lot of our scientific research grants to UK universities.