he prefers for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "he prefers for" is not standard in written English and may sound awkward or incorrect in many contexts.
It can be used when expressing a preference for something to be done in a certain way, but it is often better to rephrase it for clarity. Example: "He prefers for the meeting to be held in the morning."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

He places special orders with suppliers to get the unripe sungold cherry tomatoes he prefers for pickling.

The New York Times - Food

Mr. Bush appeared relaxed in the briefing room, which his aides say he prefers for news conferences instead of the more formal East Room.

The New York Times

Lindros, who has had six concussions, is a restricted free agent, and New York is not among the cities he has said he prefers for future employment.

The New York Times - Sports

Asked how he would transition the country from the Affordable Care Act, toward the universal, single-payer system he prefers for healthcare, Sanders seemed unsure.

The Guardian

He prefers, for example, Simon Russell Beale's "capacity for moral disgust" in John Caird's solemn National Theatre production in 2000 rather than Mark Rylance's own Hamlet from the same year down the river at the Globe.

The Guardian

John Avalos, a member of the Board of Supervisors who is seen in San Francisco as a progressive because he prefers, for example, protecting renters to fostering new higher-end developments, is making a strong last-minute appeal from the left.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

His death tends to obscure his achievements even more than the peculiarly low light levels he preferred for the work's display.

The Guardian - Arts

"Many journalists were complicit even without being controlled, for example by accepting conditions, or when he chose journalists he preferred for interviews," said Jacopo Iacoboni, a political journalist at La Stampa.

The Guardian

THE ARTS An article on Monday about Dr. Eben Alexander III, the author of "Proof of Heaven," which recounts his near-death experience, misstated in some editions the term used for a clinical trial with only one patient, a term he said he preferred for the book's title.

The New York Times

He preferred, for instance, this and this, which, in the parlance of his day, "Never made any noise".

Huffington Post

Timbers, a Yale graduate, is deeply steeped in history and politics—he prefers nonfiction for his leisure reading and he is well versed in dramatic theory.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "he prefers for" in formal writing. Opt for grammatically stronger alternatives such as "he prefers that" or "he would prefer."

Common error

The construction "he prefers for" often leads to awkward phrasing. Remember that "prefer" typically takes a "that" clause or a direct object, not a preposition. Instead of saying "he prefers for it to be done this way", say "he prefers that it be done this way".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he prefers for" attempts to express a preference or desire, but it's grammatically unconventional. Ludwig AI analysis suggests using more standard constructions like "he prefers that" or rephrasing for clarity. The function is to indicate a favored option or action, but the wording is not ideal.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Wiki

17%

Science

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "he prefers for" appears in various sources, it's generally considered grammatically awkward. Ludwig AI analysis indicates that more precise and conventional alternatives, such as "he prefers that", are recommended for clarity and grammatical correctness. Using stronger phrasing is particularly important in formal or professional writing to avoid any ambiguity or misinterpretation. While the phrase is 'common' given the relatively high number of examples, its usage should be carefully considered.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he prefers that

Replaces the preposition "for" with the conjunction "that" for a more grammatically sound construction.

he would prefer that

Adds "would" to soften the preference and uses "that" for grammatical correctness.

he prefers it when

Specifies a situation or action that he favors.

he likes it when

Uses "likes" instead of "prefers" to express a general liking for a situation.

he favors

A more concise way of expressing preference, omitting "for".

he tends to prefer

Indicates a habitual preference.

he prefers doing

Focuses on a specific action he favors.

his preference is for

Turns the preference into a noun phrase for a more formal tone.

he'd rather

A contraction that expresses a strong preference.

he is inclined to

Suggests a leaning towards a particular choice.

FAQs

Is "he prefers for" grammatically correct?

The phrase "he prefers for" is generally considered grammatically awkward. It's better to use alternatives like "he prefers that" or "he would prefer". Using "that" creates a clearer and more grammatically sound sentence.

What can I say instead of "he prefers for"?

You can use alternatives like "he prefers that", "he would prefer that", or "he likes it when" depending on the context. These options offer better clarity and grammatical correctness.

Which is correct, "he prefers for" or "he prefers that"?

"He prefers that" is the correct and more grammatically sound option. The phrase "he prefers for" is generally considered incorrect in standard English.

How to use "he prefers that" in a sentence?

You can use "he prefers that" to introduce a clause specifying his preference. For example: "He prefers that the meeting be held in the morning".