has slightly favored

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "has slightly favored" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a mild preference or bias towards something in a particular context. Example: "The recent data analysis has slightly favored the hypothesis that increased exercise leads to better mental health outcomes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

One of the precincts is in Keokuk County, which has slightly favored Mr. Santorum tonight, and the other is in Clinton County, which has slightly favored Mr. Romney.

The New York Times

— NATE SILVER According to David Wasserman of the Cook Political Report, the outstanding precinct in Clinton County, which has slightly favored Mitt Romney tonight, had 422 John McCain voters in the general election of 2008.

The New York Times

The two men, both elected to Congress in 1996, began their battle after New Jersey's redistricting commission, faced with eliminating one of the state's 13 districts, moved Mr. Rothman's home in Fair Lawn into the Fifth District, which has slightly favored Republicans.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

The election was supposed to be close (the polls had slightly favored Northam, but the momentum was understood to be with Gillespie), yet by early in the evening on Tuesday, it was obviously a Democratic rout — Northam won by an astonishing nine percentage points.

The New Yorker

In general the evening administration had been slightly favoring the efficacy of prostaglandin analogs [ 23].

Advances in Therapy

It has slightly salty language.

The New York Times

Each has slightly different regulations.

The Economist

Betting markets, even though they have "The King's Speech" heavily favored for best picture, have "The Social Network's" David Fincher slightly favored for best director.

The New York Times

In the Eastern Division Finals, the 76ers had the better record than the Celtics and were slightly favored.

Wikipedia

Among the aromatic residues, Tyr is slightly favored (1.17) while Phe and Trp have propensities values close to 1.00, indicating a neutral preference for residue contact.

Bioinformatics

In the comparison of VSC with SAC, none of the individual studies had shown an advantage in terms of the frequency of cecal intubation, but the pooled data slightly favored VSC.

BMC Gastroenterology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "has slightly favored" to express a mild inclination or preference, avoiding stronger terms when the bias is not pronounced. This phrase is suitable when you want to convey a subtle leaning without overstating the case.

Common error

Avoid using "has slightly favored" when there's a clear and significant preference. Using this phrase in such cases can dilute the actual strength of the bias, misleading the reader.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has slightly favored" functions as a verb phrase that indicates a mild inclination or preference towards something. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct for expressing a subtle bias, evidenced by the examples found in various sources.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "has slightly favored" is a grammatically sound and usable phrase for expressing a mild preference or inclination. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. While not exceedingly common, it appears primarily in news and scientific contexts, indicating a neutral to formal register. When writing, be mindful to use this phrase when you intend to convey a nuanced, subtle bias, and avoid it when the preference is strong. Consider alternatives like "has leaned towards" for similar expressions. Remember, overstating the preference is a common error, as it can dilute the actual strength of the bias.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has leaned towards

Indicates a tendency or inclination in a particular direction, suggesting a preference but not a strong one.

has shown a slight preference for

Emphasizes the demonstration of a preference, making it explicit rather than implied.

has marginally preferred

Uses "marginally" to denote a small degree of preference, similar to "slightly".

has subtly favored

Highlights the understated nature of the preference, suggesting it might not be immediately obvious.

has gently leaned toward

Conveys a delicate inclination, softening the sense of preference.

has favored to a small extent

Clarifies the limited degree to which something is favored.

has been somewhat partial to

Implies a degree of bias, suggesting a subjective reason for the preference.

has displayed a mild inclination towards

Indicates a formal observation of a tendency, emphasizing a detached perspective.

has given a slight edge to

Suggests providing a small advantage rather than a general preference.

has tilted slightly towards

Uses a metaphor to convey a small shift in preference or advantage.

FAQs

How can I use "has slightly favored" in a sentence?

You can use "has slightly favored" to indicate a mild preference or tendency. For example, "The data analysis has slightly favored the new treatment over the old one".

What alternatives can I use instead of "has slightly favored"?

Consider alternatives such as "has leaned towards", "has shown a slight preference for", or "has marginally preferred" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "has slightly favored" in formal writing?

Yes, "has slightly favored" is suitable for formal writing, as it conveys a subtle and nuanced meaning without being overly colloquial. However, ensure that the context aligns with the phrase's implied moderation.

What is the difference between "has slightly favored" and "strongly favors"?

"Has slightly favored" indicates a mild preference or bias, while "strongly favors" indicates a significant and decisive preference. The choice depends on the degree of inclination you want to express.