I prefer over

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I prefer over" is not grammatically correct and cannot be used in written English.
If you want to use the phrase "over" to express a preference, you should rephrase the sentence as "I prefer [something/someone] to [something/someone else]". For example: "I prefer coffee over tea".

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

A couple things about the PlayBook design that I prefer over the iPad include speakers that are front-facing (and produce a nice, loud, crisp sound).

TechCrunch

I use doxycycline 150 mg twice daily along with azithromycin, 250 mg twice daily for four weeks and then pulse a few times for two weeks off and on with an alternating tetracycline combination based regimen, which I prefer over doxy for most applications.

HuffPost

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

But I prefer Napoleon BoverTogether!" over and over again.

The New Yorker

"So turns out i prefer chocolate over vanilla.

Huffington Post

I prefer to over-communicate whenever a challenge arises.

Forbes

I prefer the over-ear design and smaller cord — particularly as someone who goes running several times a week.

TechCrunch

Of course, my choice, like anyone's, is clouded by bias; I prefer density over sprawl, big over small, new over old, and diversity over monoculture.

Forbes

And at the ending of the stage version (which I vastly prefer over the film's ending), everyone is destroyed and it looks like Audrey Two is on the verge of devouring the world.

Huffington Post

I prefer it over the Flex and I've always preferred Fitbit's offerings over other devices like the Jawbone Up and the Nike Fuelband.

TechCrunch

"I prefer youth over experience," he says.

The New York Times

"But I prefer winning over anything".

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When expressing preference, always use "to" instead of "over" after "prefer". The correct structure is "I prefer X to Y".

Common error

Avoid using "over" with "prefer". It's a common mistake to say "I prefer X over Y", but the grammatically correct form is "I prefer X to Y".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I prefer over" is typically intended to express a preference, but it is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "I prefer X to Y". Ludwig flags this as incorrect usage.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "I prefer over" might seem natural, it's grammatically incorrect. The correct structure is "I prefer X to Y". As Ludwig highlights, the phrase does appear in some contexts, particularly in News & Media, but it's best to avoid it in formal writing. Instead, consider using alternatives like "I "prefer to"", "I "favor"", or "I "like better"" to ensure clarity and grammatical correctness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

i prefer...to

Corrects the grammatical structure by using 'to' instead of 'over'.

i favour

Uses a different verb to express preference.

i lean towards

Indicates a tendency to prefer something.

i am more inclined towards

Expresses preference with a higher degree of formality.

i have a preference for

Uses a noun phrase to indicate preference.

i like...better

Uses a simpler structure to express preference.

i find...more appealing

Focuses on the appeal of one option over another.

i'm partial to

Indicates a fondness for something.

i'd rather

Uses a contraction to express a direct choice.

my preference is for

Expresses preference from a third person view.

FAQs

How to correctly use "I prefer" in a sentence?

The correct way to use "I prefer" is to follow it with the structure "I prefer X to Y", for example, "I prefer coffee to tea".

What can I say instead of "I prefer over"?

Instead of "I prefer over", you can say "I "prefer to"", "I "favor"", or "I "like better"".

Which is correct, "I prefer over" or "I prefer to"?

"I prefer to" is grammatically correct. "I prefer over" is incorrect and should be avoided.

What's the difference between "I prefer to" and "I prefer something to something"?

"I prefer to" is followed by a verb (e.g., "I prefer to walk"), while "I prefer something to something" is used to compare two nouns (e.g., "I prefer cats to dogs").