favors

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "favors" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it as a verb to mean "to do something nice for someone that they did not expect or ask for", or as a noun to refer to something nice done for someone. Examples: Verb: I want to do something special for my parents to show them how much I appreciate all their favors. Noun: My friends love to do favors for me when I'm in need.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He favors a single-payer healthcare system and he co-sponsored legislation in 2007 to cap carbon emissions.

The Guardian

If you are an activist who favors lots of redistribution, the Piketty story is a lot easier to tell yourself and to tell your audiences – and that is yet another reason for its popularity.

The Guardian - Money

One recent study suggests that climate change favors an SST pattern in the North Pacific that increases the incidence of the atmospheric circulation pattern responsible for the current drought.

The Guardian

The Clinton Cash book alleged that Clinton used her position at the State Department to grant special favors to foreign governments that donated to her eponymous foundation.

The Guardian

But it actually favors only a reduction in the tax rate.

The New York Times

The group refuses to say whether it also favors a reduction of loopholes.

The New York Times

Unfortunately, Congress is fixated on credit and special favors for unionized firms, and that wont sustain or support faster growth.NFIB has been banging this drum for months; the problem is a lack of demand, not some imagined looming American debt crisis.

The Economist

Against corporate leverage, by changing the tax bias that now favors debt finance.

The Economist

Rick Johnson Taipei, TaiwanFew have got it as right as your list of three milestones describing "How America's big companies got environmentalism": the electricity industry's position now favors federal regulation of carbon emissions, Jim Rogers' role in that conversion, and the formation of the United States Climate Action Partnership that brought industrialists and environmentalists together.

The Economist

If this meant throwing European assistance and subsidies around like political favors and giving pensions to people who had never contributed to social security (such as farmers), then so be it.

The Economist

Here is his attack on Mr Romney's discussion of tax policy at the debate:The centerpiece of Governor Romney's economic plan is a new $5 trillion tax cut that favors the wealthiest Americans.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When you mean to express a bias in a negative way (e.g. favoring someone unfairly), consider alternatives like "shows favoritism to", or "is biased towards" for increased clarity.

Common error

Be mindful of the spelling. While "favor" and "favors" are standard in American English, "favour" and "favours" are used in British English. Choose the spelling appropriate to your audience.

Linguistic Context

The word "favors" primarily functions as a verb (third-person singular present) or a noun (plural), depending on the context. Ludwig AI shows that as a verb, it indicates preference or support, while as a noun, it refers to acts of kindness or special privileges.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

38%

News & Media

31%

Formal & Business

23%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Wiki

2%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the word "favors" is a versatile term used as both a verb and a noun. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and widely applicable in both American and British English. The primary function of "favors" is to express a preference, advantage or support something, with related phrases like "prefers" and "supports" offering similar meanings. As indicated by Ludwig examples, its usage spans across multiple fields, including science, news media, and formal business contexts, making it a commonly used term in various forms of communication. Be mindful of the spelling (favors vs. favours) based on your target audience.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

prefers

Expresses a stronger sense of personal liking or choice.

supports

Implies active advocacy or endorsement of something.

inclines towards

Indicates a tendency or leaning in a particular direction.

is partial to

Suggests a fondness or special liking for something.

gives an advantage to

Focuses on providing a beneficial position or opportunity.

is conducive to

Highlights the contribution to a positive outcome or condition.

is sympathetic to

Expresses understanding or agreement with a particular viewpoint.

leans toward

Similar to "inclines towards" but can also suggest uncertainty.

has a preference for

Formally states a liking of one thing over another.

shows favoritism to

Implies an unfair bias or preferential treatment.

FAQs

How can I use "favors" in a sentence?

You can use "favors" to mean preferring something, as in "The evidence "favors" this theory", or to indicate doing a kindness for someone, as in "She always "favors" her friends in need".

What are some alternatives to using "favors"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "prefers", "supports", or "is partial to" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it correct to say "he favors" or "he favours"?

Both are correct, but "favors" is the American English spelling, while "favours" is the British English spelling. Choose the spelling that aligns with your intended audience.

What's the difference between "favors" and "showing favoritism"?

"Favors" generally implies a preference or advantage, while "showing favoritism" suggests an unfair bias or preferential treatment towards someone or something.