a common preference

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a common preference" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a shared or widely held liking or choice among a group of people. Example: "In our survey, we found that a common preference among participants was for eco-friendly products."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

Montero, Valdés, and Chaviano shared a common preference for sexual themes as such (as opposed to "gender issues").

Encyclopedia Britannica

In the mink, units with a common preference for the on or off phase of stationary stimuli were arranged in columnar aggregates, a feature of cortical organization that was not found in the cat.

Stanford University

It transforms attribute values into a common preference scale such as [0, 1] so that comparisons between different attributes becomes possible.

International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials

Even including 26 Japanese films, which conventional wisdom suggests would place important objects to the right (since Japanese script is read right-to-left), I noticed a common preference for slightly left-of-center framings.

HuffPost

These spatial groupings may reflect a common preference for insertion sites, or a general tolerance of insertions in certain regions of the chromosome.

BMC Genomics

In previous work, Hill [ 36] found that female house finches from distinct populations, with very different patterns of male coloration, all show a common preference for red males, suggesting that red preference is an ancestral trait in the house finch that is maintained despite very different social and environmental conditions.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

While the active sites of enzymes of an entire protease type show common preference for residues at the scissile bond (P1- P1'), with a few exceptions, individual enzymes from within the same catalytic type may have unique preferences at other positions [9].

Plosone

The issue of turbulence in chemical vapor deposition (CVD) reactors has received little attention, since the use of laminar flow conditions in the conventional operation of CVD reactors has been developed as a general preference, contrast to the common preference for turbulent flow conditions in other fields of chemical reactor operation.

Journal of Crystal Growth

But Prelec and Loewenstein's research suggests that the "flat-rate bias" may be a common consumer preference.

MIT Technology Review

"Instead of seeking computer vision anonymity through minimizing the confidence score of a true face (i.e. CV Dazzle), HyperFace offers a higher confidence score for a nearby false face by exploiting a common algorithmic preference for the highest confidence facial region.

Vice

It is suggested that compulsive ordering and a drive for symmetry are extreme manifestations of the common preference for order and symmetry.

Behaviour Research and Therapy

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a common preference", ensure that the context clearly defines the group or population sharing the preference to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid assuming that "a common preference" directly causes a particular outcome. It may be only one factor among many contributing to the result.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a common preference" functions as a noun phrase, acting as the subject, object, or complement in a sentence. It identifies a shared liking or choice among a group of individuals or entities, as shown in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

30%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a common preference" is a grammatically sound phrase used to denote a shared liking or choice within a group. As Ludwig AI's analysis shows, it is most frequently encountered in scientific and news-related contexts, indicating a neutral to formal register. When employing this phrase, it's crucial to define the group clearly and avoid mistaking correlation for causation. Alternatives like "a shared inclination" or "a collective desire" can offer nuanced variations in meaning. Although not extremely frequent, the phrase is well-established and readily understood.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a shared inclination

Replaces "preference" with "inclination", highlighting a natural tendency or urge.

a mutual liking

Substitutes "preference" with "liking", emphasizing a positive feeling shared by multiple parties.

a collective desire

Changes "preference" to "desire", suggesting a stronger, more passionate shared want.

a widespread tendency

Replaces "preference" with "tendency", focusing on a general pattern of behavior or choice.

a general agreement

Shifts from preference to agreement, emphasizing a consensus in taste or choice.

a prevalent choice

Focuses on the popularity of a specific option over others.

a typical inclination

Emphasizes the norm or standard inclination within a group.

a familiar leaning

Highlights a known or recognized tendency.

a joint predisposition

Uses 'predisposition' to suggest a pre-existing inclination shared by a group.

a unified perspective

Highlights a convergence in viewpoint that results in shared choice.

FAQs

How can I use "a common preference" in a sentence?

You can use "a common preference" to describe a shared liking or choice among a group. For example, "A common preference among voters was for candidates promising tax cuts."

What are some alternatives to saying "a common preference"?

Alternatives include "a shared inclination", "a mutual liking", or "a collective desire", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to say "a common preference"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct. The phrase follows standard English grammar rules and is widely used in both formal and informal contexts.

What's the difference between "a common preference" and "a general preference"?

"A common preference" implies that the preference is shared among a specific group, while "a general preference" suggests that the preference is widespread or typical within a larger population.