he was preferred

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "he was preferred" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating that someone was chosen or favored over others in a particular context, such as a job selection or a personal choice. Example: "In the final decision, he was preferred for the position due to his extensive experience and qualifications."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

Despite the reputation Balotelli has for volatility, he was preferred to Dzeko at centre-forward.

The Guardian - Sport

He was preferred to Rudy Gestede, Campbell and Maynard, none of whom were fully fit.

The Guardian - Sport

Local intelligence claims he was preferred to "several international star names".

The Guardian - Sport

Abbott's personal approval was also slightly higher in Canning than the national average – he was preferred prime minister over the opposition leader, Bill Shorten, 41 to 38.

The Guardian

Against Hannover and Atlético, Robin van Persie was the focal point of the attack – he was preferred to Nicklas Bendtner, who played in one of the support roles.

The Guardian - Sport

The former Sheffield United manager has overseen only 58 games in the Premier League in total, but he was preferred to Steve Clarke after Parish held a second series of interviews this week.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

No, Obama rose — and even on taxes he's preferred over McCain.

The New Yorker

At the expected odds of around 9-2, he is preferred to Lucky William, whose recent form figures might give an exaggerated impression of his ability.

The Guardian - Sport

Without being specific, he's prefer to avoid having to "take out" Iran's nuclear infrastructure with military force.

Huffington Post

For that matter, it's impossible to know whether he actually was preferred by 62percentt of Iranian voters.

The New York Times

"I had a star next to my name; I was preferred," he said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the formality of your writing. While "he was preferred" is generally acceptable, "he was favored" or "he was chosen" might be more appropriate in certain contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "he was preferred by himself". The passive voice already implies that someone else did the preferring, so adding "by himself" is redundant and grammatically incorrect.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he was preferred" functions as a passive construction, indicating that an action (being preferred) was done to the subject (he) by an unspecified agent. Ludwig AI identifies this as a correct and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Wiki

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "he was preferred" is a grammatically correct and commonly used passive construction indicating that someone was chosen over others. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is suitable for various contexts, particularly in news and media, with a neutral register. When employing this phrase, ensure clarity regarding what or whom the subject was preferred over. Alternative phrases like "he was favored" or "he was chosen" can provide similar meaning with slightly different nuances. Avoid redundant phrasing like "he was preferred by himself".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he was favored

Replaces 'preferred' with 'favored', indicating a slight shift in tone towards showing kindness or support.

he was chosen

Substitutes 'preferred' with 'chosen', emphasizing the act of selection from a group.

he was selected

Replaces 'preferred' with 'selected', highlighting a more formal or deliberate selection process.

he was picked

Uses 'picked' instead of 'preferred', offering a more informal and direct way to express the selection.

he was appointed

Replaces 'preferred' with 'appointed', suggesting a formal designation to a role or position.

he was the top choice

Rephrases to 'he was the top choice', stressing that he was the leading option.

he was given priority

Uses 'given priority' instead of 'preferred', indicating that he received special attention or preference.

he was considered better

Rephrases to 'he was considered better', highlighting a judgment of superiority.

he was found suitable

Uses 'found suitable' instead of 'preferred', focusing on the assessment of his qualifications or appropriateness.

he was deemed the best option

Rephrases to 'he was deemed the best option', emphasizing an official decision regarding his superiority.

FAQs

What does "he was preferred" mean?

The phrase "he was preferred" indicates that someone was chosen or favored over others in a particular context. It suggests a selection process where this person was deemed more suitable or desirable than alternatives.

What can I say instead of "he was preferred"?

You can use alternatives like "he was favored", "he was chosen", or "he was selected" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "he was preferred over others"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct. However, the "over others" part is often implied in the phrase "he was preferred", so it might be redundant depending on context. It's more concise to say just "he was preferred".

What is the difference between "he was preferred" and "he preferred"?

"He was preferred" is in the passive voice, meaning someone else made the choice. "He preferred" is in the active voice, indicating that he himself made the choice. For example, "He was preferred by the manager" versus "He preferred the blue shirt".