as a second preference

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "as a second preference" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating an alternative choice that is not the primary option but is still acceptable. Example: "I would prefer to go to the beach, but as a second preference, I am open to visiting the museum."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

It will, in other words, end up being of equal value to him in his head-to-head with Johnson – just as a second preference for Johnson will be to him in relation to Livingstone.

The Guardian - Opinion

Then no deal would be "a lot of voters' second preference and emerge the winner", because anyone wanting to remain would be forced to choose one of the leave options as a second preference (or leave that blank).

The Guardian

One student identified Aboriginal-focused practice as a first preference and three as a second preference for employment.

BMC Medical Education

Since all patients were given the opportunity to choose their first priority for a change in their medical care as well as a second preference, we deemed it worthwhile to identify the most popular 'couplets' of choices.

BMC Health Services Research

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

But the new international court gives the country of the accused, not the country making the accusation, the right to hold the trial itself as a first preference.

The New York Times

Only 77 people actually voted for Roberts as a first preference but, thanks to the popularity of Hanson, he's in for three years.

The Guardian

A global leader's most successful citizens should not as a first preference seek to educate their children outside the country.

Harvard Business Review

Labour's position, firmed up at the party conference in September, is to push for a general election as a first preference, but to maintain the possibility of a second referendum if this does not happen.

The Guardian

Once a shopper is subscribed to Prime, a pavlovian instinct brings them back to shop on Amazon as a first preference.

Forbes

Cardiology grew as a first preference one year after graduation to 2005 but is now falling.

BMC Medical Education

Interviews took place face-to-face as a first preference and by telephone, if the former was not possible.

BMC Medical Education

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "as a second preference" to clearly indicate a choice that is acceptable but not the most desired option. This helps in setting expectations and providing alternatives.

Common error

Avoid using "as a second preference" when you actually mean the primary choice. This can create confusion and miscommunication regarding your priorities.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as a second preference" functions as a prepositional phrase that modifies a noun or verb, indicating a secondary choice or option. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "as a second preference" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase for indicating an alternative or backup choice. Ludwig AI confirms this, noting its use in contexts such as news and scientific publications. While relatively rare, the phrase is valuable for clearly communicating priorities and offering alternatives. Consider alternatives like "as an alternative choice" or "as a backup option" to achieve similar results. Remember to reserve "as a second preference" for genuinely secondary options to avoid confusion.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

as an alternative choice

Emphasizes the concept of an alternative rather than a preferred option.

as a backup option

Highlights the role of the choice as a contingency plan.

as a secondary option

Directly indicates that the choice is not the primary one.

as a fallback

Suggests a plan to resort to if the primary choice is unavailable.

as the next best thing

Implies that the choice is acceptable but not ideal.

as a substitute

Indicates that the choice is replacing the preferred option.

as a plan B

Explicitly labels the choice as a secondary plan.

as another possibility

Broadly suggests the choice as one among several options.

as an additional option

Implies that the choice is one of multiple supplementary choices.

as a further alternative

Similar to "as an alternative choice" but adds more emphasis on being an additional alternate.

FAQs

How can I use "as a second preference" in a sentence?

You can use "as a second preference" to indicate an alternative choice. For example, "I would prefer to travel to Italy, but "as a second preference", I am happy to visit France".

What's a similar phrase to "as a second preference"?

Alternatives include "as an alternative choice", "as a backup option", or "as a secondary option", depending on the specific context.

Is it redundant to say "first preference" and "second preference" in the same sentence?

It is not redundant if you are contrasting the two choices. For instance, "While my first preference is a beach vacation, my "as a second preference" is a mountain retreat".

When should I avoid using "as a second preference"?

Avoid using "as a second preference" if the choice is equally desirable or if there is no clear primary option. In such cases, using "also acceptable" or "another option" might be more appropriate.