a strong preference

USAGE SUMMARY

"a strong preference" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you want to express a preference that is very important to you. For example, "I have a strong preference to work evenings, rather than mornings."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

The Mets showed a strong preference for college players.

The New York Times - Sports

A man, you might say, with a strong preference for still waters.

The Guardian - Books

Beneficiaries showed a strong preference for low-cost plans this year.

The New York Times

The public also has a strong preference for national unity coalitions, according to opinion polls.

The New York Times

Bees show a strong preference for flowers with intricate shapes and colorations.

Encyclopedia Britannica

This option is great when you have a strong preference for an ingredient.

The New York Times - Tech

Guizot shared with Louis-Philippe a strong preference for a safe and sane foreign policy.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Both places show a strong preference for consumption over saving when times are good.

The Economist

Mr Roberts has a strong preference for making "narrow" decisions that have limited value as precedents.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

The eight rats showed a strong preference for the novel objects.

Behavioral Neuroscience

I'm expressing a strong preference for stability over instability.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a strong preference" to clearly convey a significant degree of inclination, ensuring your message is unambiguous.

Common error

Avoid using "a strong preference" when you actually mean a suggestion or mild inclination. It implies a significant bias, so ensure the context warrants such emphasis.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a strong preference" functions as a noun phrase that expresses a significant inclination or liking towards something. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is a correct and usable expression. It is often used to highlight a notable tendency or favoritism.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

39%

News & Media

30%

Wiki

4%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a strong preference" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to indicate a significant inclination or liking. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is a correct and usable phrase in written English. It appears frequently in scientific and news contexts, maintaining a neutral register suitable for formal communication. When using this phrase, ensure that the context warrants the emphasis on the strength of the preference. Alternatives include "a marked inclination" or "a pronounced tendency", depending on the desired tone and level of formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a clear inclination

This alternative swaps "strong" with "clear" and "preference" with "inclination" creating an alternative with similar meaning but different emphasis.

a marked inclination

This alternative replaces "preference" with "inclination" and uses "marked" to emphasize the degree, changing the wording while retaining the core meaning.

a pronounced tendency

This alternative replaces "preference" with "tendency" and uses "pronounced" for emphasis, offering a different choice of words with similar semantic weight.

a distinct leaning

This alternative uses "leaning" instead of "preference" and "distinct" for emphasis, providing a slightly more informal tone.

a decided favoritism

This alternative uses "favoritism", implying a bias, and "decided" to show the strength of the preference.

a keen predilection

This alternative offers a more formal and sophisticated tone, replacing "preference" with "predilection" and using "keen" for emphasis.

a notable bias

This alternative uses "bias", suggesting a potential unfairness in the preference, and "notable" to indicate its significance.

a significant partiality

This alternative replaces "preference" with "partiality", indicating a liking for something, and uses "significant" for emphasis.

a powerful penchant

This alternative replaces "preference" with "penchant", indicating a strong liking or attraction, and uses "powerful" for emphasis.

a firm disposition

This alternative replaces preference with disposition indicating a established tendency with firm denoting strength.

FAQs

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

You can use "a strong preference" to indicate a significant liking for something. For example: "The data indicates "a strong preference" among customers for longer e-books."

What are some alternatives to "a strong preference"?

Some alternatives include "a marked inclination", "a pronounced tendency", or "a distinct leaning". These phrases convey a similar meaning with slight variations in tone and emphasis.

Is it appropriate to use "a strong preference" in formal writing?

Yes, "a strong preference" is suitable for formal writing. However, consider more sophisticated alternatives like "a keen predilection" for a more refined tone, depending on the context.

What's the difference between "a strong preference" and "a slight preference"?

"A strong preference" indicates a significant inclination, while "a slight preference" suggests only a minor inclination. The choice depends on the degree of liking you want to convey.