an expression of preference

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an expression of preference" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing someone's choice or inclination towards a particular option or idea. Example: "Her decision to choose the blue dress over the red one was clearly an expression of preference for cooler colors."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

One implication is the existence of an expression of preference or ordering of the strategies.

The Theory of Gambling and Statistical Logic

We compared interior design projects exploring the hypothesis that the presence of specific elements inside the environment (human figures; doors and passages; nature elements; everyday objects) elicits a positive emotional reaction and an expression of preference in buyers.

Procedia Manufacturing

But a smiley face or anything which is interpreted by a returning officer as an expression of preference "must not be rejected if the voter's intention is clear", its guidance to Returning Officers says.

BBC

For example, an extinction memory may compete with conditioned memory for determining an expression of preference or avoidance behavior.

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Or, more subtly, maybe it's an expression of preferences in their narrow professional role.

The New York Times

Many of the participants said the focus on gun control was not an expression of party preference.

The Washington Post

You might say about a certain comedy that it's a witty comedy, for example; that is an evaluative judgment about it". While judging something to be witty might appear to be an expression of pure preference, Thomson said that such a judgment is factual as well as evaluative.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

It has been more an expression of housing preferences or a personal home insurance scheme".

The Guardian

"What we thought would provide democratic choices ended up as an expression of demographic preferences" that deepened the sectarian and ethnic divide, Malley added.

The Washington Post

Behavior in one-shot bargaining games, like the Ultimatum Game (UG), has been interpreted as an expression of social preferences, such as inequity aversion and negative reciprocity; however, the traditional UG design limits the range of possible psychological interpretation of the results.

Acta Psychologica

These tagging systems offer lots of useful information, such as tag, an expression of user's preference towards a certain resource; time, a denotation of user's interests drift.

Expert Systems with Applications

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "an expression of preference", ensure the context clearly indicates what the preference is for. Be specific to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

While grammatically sound, consistently using "an expression of preference" can sound repetitive in formal writing. Vary your phrasing with synonyms like "choice", "inclination", or "predilection" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an expression of preference" functions primarily as a noun phrase. It identifies the act or instance of showing or communicating a liking or inclination towards something. Ludwig's examples showcase its usage in various contexts, from design preferences to policy inclinations.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

33%

Academia

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "an expression of preference" is a grammatically correct noun phrase used to describe the act of showing or communicating a liking or inclination towards something. According to Ludwig, the phrase is considered valid. While relatively rare, it appears in various contexts, including scientific, news, and academic writing. When using this phrase, ensure clarity and specificity. Vary the phrasing to avoid repetition, and choose synonyms based on the desired nuance. Though the phrase is used in several contexts its frequency is rare.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a declaration of choice

Focuses on the act of choosing rather than the underlying feeling.

a statement of liking

Emphasizes positive sentiment, potentially implying a reason behind the preference.

an indication of favor

More formal, suggesting a leaning towards something.

a demonstration of inclination

Highlights the leaning or tendency towards something.

a manifestation of taste

Focuses on personal aesthetic judgment.

a show of partiality

Implies bias or favoritism towards something.

a revealing of one's bent

Refers to the natural tendency or inclination.

a voicing of opinion

Focuses on verbally expressing a viewpoint or judgment.

a conveying of desire

Highlights the aspect of wanting or wishing for something.

a predilection for

Uses a more sophisticated term for preference, suggesting a strong liking.

FAQs

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

You can use "an expression of preference" to describe someone's choice or inclination towards a particular option. For example, "Her vote was "an expression of preference" for the candidate with the strongest environmental policies."

What are some alternatives to "an expression of preference"?

You can use alternatives like "a declaration of choice", "a statement of liking", or "an indication of favor" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "expression of preference" or "statement of preference"?

"Expression of preference" implies a demonstration of liking, while "statement of preference" is a more direct declaration. The best choice depends on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

What's the difference between "an expression of preference" and "an indication of preference"?

"An expression of preference" suggests a more active and outward showing of liking, while "an indication of preference" is a more subtle hint or sign of liking.