decidedly prefer

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "decidedly prefer" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a strong or clear preference for something over another option. Example: "I have tried both options, but I decidedly prefer the first one for its simplicity."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

After Conan Doyle completed the domestic novel "A Duet with an Occasional Chorus," in 1899, Andrew Lang, a well-known editor who had helped publish one of his previous books, summed up the sentiment of most readers: "It may be a vulgar taste, but we decidedly prefer the adventures of Dr. Watson with Sherlock Holmes".

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

The trouble is that they are also people who are busy with careers and families and don't have much time to seek out the decidedly noncommercial music they prefer.

The New York Times - Arts

Other participants were asked to state a number on a normal scale from 1 to 5. As predicted, a dampened sense of self-importance eliminated the self-control effect: Just like the control group, participants who felt busy but decidedly not important preferred to receive a brownie (58%) rather than an apple as a reward for participating in the study.

Harvard Business Review

Perhaps the more common intuition is to present as many solution strategies as possible and to allow students to decide which they prefer of those decidedly correct.

International Journal of STEM Education

If you are in a hurry, or prefer antiseptic surroundings, DiFara is decidedly not for you.

The New York Times - Food

In addition, millennials (or those in their 20s and early 30s) are decidedly liberal, even going so far in a recent poll to prefer socialism to capitalism.

The Guardian - Opinion

Though I still prefer the TV show "Lost," there are few reasons to reject the kicks of this decidedly commercial art form.

The New Yorker

No one expects he will move decidedly to the left, but he has been increasingly unwilling to go as far as Scalia, Thomas and Alito would prefer.

Los Angeles Times

Instead, some will prefer to incur the tax penalty in exchange for accessing its lower premiums — as well as a destination that could be decidedly less noisy.

TechCrunch

My brother Leon is a decidedly un-Zen-like character, ever preferring there and then to here and now.

The New York Times - Travel

Though influenced by the Continental designers of the time, she preferred to work on films with a decidedly British feel.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "decidedly prefer" to express a clear and somewhat formal preference. It's suitable when you want to emphasize the certainty and strength of your choice.

Common error

While grammatically correct, "decidedly prefer" can sound overly formal in casual conversation or informal writing. Consider using simpler alternatives like "really prefer" or "strongly prefer" in less formal settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "decidedly prefer" functions as a modifier + verb construction to express a strong preference. The adverb "decidedly" intensifies the verb "prefer", indicating a clear and unambiguous choice. Ludwig AI confirms its usage in expressing preference, whether in literature or contemporary contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "decidedly prefer" is a grammatically correct and usable expression to convey a strong preference. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is suitable for emphasizing a clear choice. It is most commonly found in news and media contexts, with a neutral to professional tone. While it's not incorrect to use in informal settings, simpler alternatives might be more appropriate. When you want to make a strong, clear statement about your preference, "decidedly prefer" is a valuable phrase to consider.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

strongly favor

Indicates a more forceful preference.

clearly prefer

Emphasizes the clarity of the preference.

distinctly prefer

Highlights the noticeable difference in preference.

markedly prefer

Suggests a preference that is easily observed or significant.

definitely prefer

Emphasizes the certainty of the preference.

noticeably prefer

Highlights that the preference is easily noticed.

plainly prefer

Indicates an obvious preference.

unquestionably prefer

Implies the preference is not open to doubt.

unreservedly prefer

Suggests a preference without any hesitation or reservation.

would rather

A more common and slightly less formal way to express preference.

FAQs

How to use "decidedly prefer" in a sentence?

You can use "decidedly prefer" to indicate a strong preference, such as "I decidedly prefer tea over coffee in the morning" or "They decidedly prefer the original version of the film".

What can I say instead of "decidedly prefer"?

You can use alternatives like "strongly favor", "clearly prefer", or "definitely prefer" to express a similar meaning.

Is it better to say "decidedly prefer" or "strongly prefer"?

Both "decidedly prefer" and "strongly prefer" are correct, but "decidedly prefer" is slightly more formal and emphasizes the decisiveness of the preference.

What's the difference between "decidedly prefer" and "slightly prefer"?

"Decidedly prefer" indicates a strong, clear preference, while "slightly prefer" suggests a mild or marginal preference.