are preferable over

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "are preferable over" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct expression is "are preferable to." Example: "In this case, electric cars are preferable to gasoline-powered vehicles due to their lower emissions."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

However, wire antennas with a smaller bulk volume are preferable over planar antennas for a faster heating rate which lead to a lower thermal response time [28].

Nanoscale Research Letters

GPUs are preferable over other platforms when the user has strict real-time constraints and the data can be fit into the system memory.

Journal of Big Data

Although proteins are preferable over carbohydrates and synthetic polymers, biomaterials developed from proteins lack the mechanical properties and/or biocompatibilities required for medical applications.

Trends in Biotechnology

A family of compressible multi-phase fluid and fluid structure interaction problems for which implicit schemes are preferable over explicit counterparts is identified.

Journal of Computational Physics

Light path connections are preferable over Internet connections, but light path connections are dedicated connections that require a more complex setup procedure and sometimes might not be available to a user.

Journal of Cloud Computing

It was found that starting Huff-and-Puff too early in the life of the well diminishes its effectiveness, and that shorter soaking periods are preferable over longer waiting times.

Fuel

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

THE BECKER-POSNER BLOG Professors: Gary S. Becker, economics and sociology, University of Chicago Graduate School of Business; Richard A. Posner, University of Chicago Law School Bent: "Relatively small government — private sector is preferable over public sector solutions" (says Dr. Becker).

The New York Times

A membrane module based system is preferable over a membrane reactor of practical reasons.

Catalysis Today

In such context, this simple method should be preferable over a complex approach.

Engineering Structures

Thanks to this property, EWNC is preferable over PNC in streaming applications.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

Sampling from orthodontic patients might be preferable over dental patients or pediatric dentistry patients.

Progress in Orthodontics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the correct form "are preferable to" instead of "are preferable over". Remember that 'preferable' takes 'to', not 'over'.

Common error

Avoid the common mistake of using "over" with "preferable". This is grammatically incorrect. The correct preposition to use is "to".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "are preferable over" functions as a comparative expression, aiming to indicate that one option is better or more suitable than another. However, Ludwig AI points out that this is grammatically incorrect.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

70%

News & Media

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "are preferable over" is used to express a preference, it is grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI suggests the correct form is "are preferable to". Although it appears in various sources, including scientific and news outlets, its use is not recommended in formal writing. Better alternatives include "are better than", "are superior to", or "are favored over". When writing, remember to use "to" with "preferable" to maintain grammatical accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

are preferred to

Corrects the grammatical error by using the correct preposition "to".

are better than

Simple replacement of "preferable over" with a more direct comparison.

are superior to

Replaces "preferable" with "superior", indicating a higher degree of advantage.

are favored over

Focuses on the aspect of being chosen or liked more.

are more advantageous than

Uses "advantageous" to highlight the benefits.

are desirable over

Emphasizes the aspect of being wanted or wished for more.

are a better option than

Phrases it as a matter of choice between available options.

outweigh

Uses a verb to express that the benefits of one option exceed the other.

surpass

Similar to 'outweigh' but focused on performance/quality.

beat

Informal, meaning to be of higher quality or more useful

FAQs

What is the correct way to use the word "preferable" in a comparison?

The correct way to use "preferable" in a comparison is with the preposition "to", not "over". For example, "Electric cars "are preferable to" gasoline cars."

What can I say instead of "are preferable over"?

You can use alternatives such as "are better than", "are superior to", or "are favored over".

Which is correct, "are preferable over" or "are preferable to"?

"Are preferable to" is the correct grammatical form. "Are preferable over" is considered incorrect.

Is "are preferable over" ever acceptable in writing?

While you might encounter "are preferable over" in some contexts, it's generally considered grammatically incorrect. It is always safer and more precise to use ""are preferable to"".