favoured to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "favoured to" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating that someone or something is preferred or has an advantage in a particular situation. Example: "The team is favoured to win the championship this year due to their strong performance in the regular season."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Jim Lambie was the artist who many artworld insiders favoured to win.

The Guardian

Great Britain will be favoured to beat a New Zealand side in transition.

The Guardian - Sport

Obama merely had to become a standard Democrat, since his party is favoured to win.

The Guardian - Opinion

Johnson, who is favoured to replace Cameron, protests that there is "no need for haste".

The Guardian

Lee Westwood and Luke Donald are two Englishmen strongly favoured to win this tournament one day.

The Guardian - Sport

He will be favoured to win but will need to avoid Catterall's snappy-looking left hand.

The Guardian - Sport

Neither candidate was favoured to be their party's nominee at the start of this political saga.

The Economist

"She was going to beat – she was favoured to win – and she got schlonged.

Independent

Although heavily favoured to win, Patterson was knocked out in the third round.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"She was favoured to win and she got schlonged, she lost".

Independent

Prescription drugs and heroin, which clears the body quickly, are favoured to get around random mandatory drug tests.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "favoured to", ensure that the context clearly indicates who or what is doing the favouring. Make it explicit whether it's based on objective data, expert opinion, or popular sentiment.

Common error

Avoid ambiguity by explicitly stating who considers someone or something "favoured to" do something. For instance, instead of just saying "She is favoured to win", specify "Analysts believe she is favoured to win" to enhance clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "favoured to" functions as a predictive adjective phrase, indicating a high probability or expectation of a certain outcome. As Ludwig confirms, it is commonly used to suggest that someone or something is likely to achieve a particular result. Examples show its use in various contexts, from sports to politics.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

46%

Science

24%

Encyclopedias

14%

Less common in

Wiki

9%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "favoured to" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed expression to denote a high likelihood or expectation. Ludwig's analysis, supported by numerous real-world examples, confirms its validity and widespread use. It is most commonly found in news and media, science and encyclopedic content, suggesting a neutral to professional register. When using "favoured to", ensure clarity by explicitly stating the source of the preference or expectation. While alternatives such as "likely to" or "expected to" exist, "favoured to" provides a specific nuance suggesting both preference and probability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

expected to

Focuses on prediction rather than preference, indicating a high probability of something occurring.

likely to

Similar to "expected to", but implies a slightly lower degree of certainty.

predicted to

Emphasizes a forecast or projection, often based on analysis or data.

tipped to

Suggests that someone is being recommended or considered as a likely winner or candidate.

poised to

Indicates readiness or being in a strategic position for a particular outcome.

in line to

Implies that someone is next in a sequence or has a strong chance of receiving something.

considered the frontrunner

Highlights that someone is seen as the leading candidate or competitor.

deemed most likely to

Formally assesses probability, emphasizing a judgment or evaluation.

presumed to be

Indicates an assumption based on current evidence or circumstances.

given the edge to

Suggests that someone has a slight advantage or is slightly more likely to succeed.

FAQs

How do you use "favoured to" in a sentence?

Use "favoured to" to indicate that someone or something is expected or predicted to achieve a certain outcome. For example, "The team is "favoured to" win the championship this year".

What can I say instead of "favoured to"?

You can use alternatives like "likely to", "expected to", or "predicted to" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "favoured to win"?

Yes, "favoured to win" is a correct and commonly used phrase to indicate that someone or a team is expected to win.

What does it mean when someone is "heavily favoured to"?

When someone is "heavily favoured to", it means they are strongly expected to achieve a particular outcome. They have a very high probability of success, according to available information and analyses.