a substantial preference

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a substantial preference" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a significant or considerable inclination or choice towards something. Example: "In the survey results, there was a substantial preference for renewable energy sources over fossil fuels."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

But while Pew says that voter views were broadly socialistic in the 1930s, its surveys indicate where American preferences actually fell:[W]hen asked if they had to make the choice would they opt for fascism or communism, the public expressed a substantial preference for fascism (39%) over communism (25%), while 36% offered no opinion.

The Economist

As expected from the previous experiment, larvae appear indifferent after 1 min, but after 2 min and in particular after 4 min, a substantial preference for glucose is apparent.

Chemical Senses

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

At the level of physiological function, it should be added that those cyclohexadienyl dehydrogenases that exhibit a very substantial preference for prephenate are for all practical purposes prephenate dehydrogenases, even though they carry a formal designation of TyrAc or TyrAc_Δ.

BMC Biology

Although recent marketing literature on pricing research has focused mainly on monadic designs for eliciting willingness to pay for products, our results suggest that switching to a market-like environment where product choices are usually transacted in a competitive environment might create substantial preference reversals.

Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services

It was found that farmers have no substantial preference for whether the pasture grazing program is financed by the food industry, a governmental scheme, or the dairy company.

Journal of Dairy Science

HupBMtb displayed substantial preference in binding to AT rich DNA.

Plosone

AMBER-99SB shows a much lower helical content over this timescale than these helix-friendly force fields, along with substantial preference for turn and coil conformations.

Plosone

However, substantial preference heterogeneity existed.

British Journal of Cancer

These findings may reflect the sequence and ligand flexibility noted among the CRP/FNR protein family (Gomelsky, 2011), as well as the substantial preference (>60-fold) of XC_0249 for binding cyclic GMP rather than cyclic AMP.

EMBO Journal

Clinical response may specifically have a substantial impact on preferences.

British Journal of Cancer

In contrast, affluent Americans' preferences exhibit a substantial relationship with policy outcomes whether their preferences are shared by lower income groups or not.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a substantial preference" to highlight a significant difference in choice or inclination, particularly when comparing options or discussing survey results.

Common error

Avoid using "a substantial preference" when the difference is minimal or statistically insignificant. Ensure the preference is truly significant to maintain accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a substantial preference" functions as a noun phrase that highlights a significant or considerable inclination toward something. Ludwig confirms its correct usage, indicating its acceptability in formal writing.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Academia

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a substantial preference" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe a notable inclination. Although Ludwig examples indicate that it is currently a rare expression, the Ludwig AI analysis confirms its validity, suggesting the expression is well accepted. It is mostly used in scientific or academic contexts to emphasize the significant degree of choice or leaning. Consider using alternatives like "a significant inclination" or "a strong leaning" for variety.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a significant inclination

Replaces "preference" with "inclination" and "substantial" with "significant", altering the emphasis slightly.

a strong leaning

Uses "leaning" to indicate a tendency, maintaining a similar level of intensity.

a marked predilection

Uses "predilection", implying a stronger and more noticeable preference.

a major penchant

Uses "penchant" to denote a strong liking or habit, suggesting a personal taste.

a notable tendency

Substitutes preference for the more general "tendency", indicating a pattern rather than a specific choice.

a considerable bias

Suggests a leaning that might be unfair or unbalanced, introducing a potentially negative connotation.

an overwhelming disposition

Highlights the compelling nature of the preference, making it almost irresistible.

a decided favoritism

Implies overt partiality toward one option over others.

a real fondness

Conveys a sense of affection or endearment, making the preference more emotional.

a clear advantage

Shifts the focus to one option having a distinct benefit over others.

FAQs

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

You can use "a substantial preference" to describe a significant inclination or choice, as in "The data showed "a substantial preference" for the updated design among users".

What are some alternatives to "a substantial preference"?

Alternatives include "a significant inclination", "a marked predilection", or "a strong leaning", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "a substantial preference for"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct. The preposition "for" is commonly used after "preference" to indicate the object of the preference, such as "a substantial preference for chocolate over vanilla".

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

"A substantial preference" emphasizes the significant size or amount of the preference, while "a strong preference" emphasizes the intensity or degree of the preference. They are often interchangeable, but their emphasis differs slightly.