a preference of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a preference of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing someone's choice or inclination towards something, often in a comparative context. Example: "She expressed a preference of tea over coffee when it comes to her morning beverage."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"It's not a preference of mine," he said.

The New York Times - Sports

He said the Telemann would be performed with modern instruments, a preference of his.

The New York Times - Arts

"We verified that there was a preference of some customers at the expense of others," William F. Galvin, the state's chief financial regulator, said in an interview.

The New York Times

No. It's merely a preference of sequential vs. global learners.

TechCrunch

Considering only the valid executions, the Specific Section structure had a preference of 29.1% of the experiment volunteers and the Tags structure had a preference of 21.6%.

Journal of Software Engineering Research and Development

We also observe a preference of users with more friends to connect to the opposite gender.

EPJ Data Science

In short, the industry needs a truly agnostic DoubleClick– a company that serves ads without a preference of ad network.

TechCrunch

Present in every experience is a ranking of values, a preference of certain values to others (GW II, 104).

SEP

Mathematical thinking should not be regarded as a kind of mathematical skill; it should be regarded as a preference of how mathematical skills are used (Borromeo-Ferri, 2010).

International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education

Subjective evaluation in a cafeteria at lunchtime shows a preference of the cochlear implant users for the evaluated device in terms of speech understanding and sound quality.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

Figures 5 shows that the KneePrints method is the favourite among the proposed data presentation formats in the survey with a preference of 63 %.

Journal of Experimental Orthopaedics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a preference of", ensure clarity by specifying what the preference is over. For example, instead of saying "He has a preference of", specify "He has a preference of tea over coffee".

Common error

Avoid using "a preference of" without explicitly stating what is being preferred over something else. Saying just "She has a preference of" leaves the reader wondering what the preference is. Always provide context by specifying the alternative, such as "She has a preference of action movies over romantic comedies".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a preference of" functions as a noun phrase indicating a choice, inclination, or favor towards something. Ludwig provides examples across various domains demonstrating its use in academic writing, news reports, and general communication. It is generally used to state that something is favored over something else.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

53%

News & Media

26%

Wiki

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a preference of" is a grammatically sound phrase used to express a liking or inclination towards something. According to Ludwig, this phrase is commonly found in scientific, news media and wiki contexts. While acceptable, remember to specify what is being preferred, and be aware that "a preference for" is often considered more natural in contemporary English. Common alternatives include "a predilection of" and "an inclination towards". Ludwig's examples show the phrase's versatility across various fields, confirming its validity and broad usability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a predilection of

Emphasizes a stronger inclination or liking, often implying a personal taste or bias.

a partiality of

Highlights a bias or favoritism towards a particular option or choice.

an inclination of

Highlights a natural tendency or leaning towards a particular choice or option.

an affinity of

Suggests a natural connection or attraction to something, often based on shared qualities or characteristics.

a liking of

A more informal way to express a general fondness or positive feeling towards something.

a tendency of

Focuses on a consistent pattern or trend in someone's choices or behavior.

a fondness of

Suggests a warm or affectionate feeling towards something, often based on personal experience.

a leaning of

Indicates a slight preference or inclination towards something, often without strong conviction.

a propensity of

Implies a natural inclination or tendency to behave in a certain way or choose a particular option.

a taste of

Indicates a specific liking for a particular style, flavor, or aesthetic.

FAQs

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

Use "a preference of" to indicate a choice or inclination towards something. For example, "The data indicates "a preference of" users for mobile devices over desktops".

What's a more formal way to say "a preference of"?

For a more formal tone, consider using "a predilection for" or "an inclination towards" instead of "a preference of". For example, "The study revealed "a predilection for" classical music among older adults".

Is it better to use "a preference of" or "a preference for"?

While both are grammatically correct, "a preference for" is more commonly used and generally sounds more natural in contemporary English. "A preference of" is still acceptable, especially in certain contexts, as shown by Ludwig.

What are some similar phrases to "a preference of" that I can use in my writing?

You can use phrases like "a liking for", "an affinity for", or "an inclination towards" to express a similar meaning. Choose the phrase that best fits the specific context of your sentence.