indicated a preference

USAGE SUMMARY

"indicated a preference" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe someone's decision when choosing between two or more options. For example, "After unanimously suggesting several vacation spots, they finally indicated a preference for going to the beach."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Grid preference was calculated as the ratio of use to availability [19], where a value of >1 indicated a preference and <1 indicated avoidance of an area.

Plosone

While Grassley has indicated a preference for cooperating with Feinstein going forward, there is little indication they will.

The Washington Post

When asked whom he would prefer as his VP he defers to the voters, but indicated a preference for Senator Elizabeth Warren or Senator Bernie Sanders.

Huffington Post

The results overwhelmingly indicated a preference to secede, which occurred on July 9 , 2011

Britannica

Other emails generally disparaged Sanders and indicated a preference for Clinton.

The Washington Post

Bosh also could sign an extension this summer but has indicated a preference to explore free agency.

The New York Times - Sports

Argentina has asked for their extradition, but the Chilean judges have indicated a preference that they be tried here.

The New York Times

Whomever Mr. Putin endorses is most likely to become president, but he has not indicated a preference.

The New York Times

Thus, if participants indicated a preference to vote for Trump, they would be endorsing a dominant leader.

Harvard Business Review

In preliminary discussions, he said, networks indicated a preference to stage the event in Las Vegas, Nev.

The New York Times - Sports

The club's commodore, Tony Pignatello, indicated a preference for the latter, and the others assented.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "indicated a preference", ensure the context clearly specifies what the preference is for. Be explicit about the options being considered to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid stating simply that someone "indicated a preference" without specifying what the preference pertains to. Always clarify what was preferred to provide complete information and avoid confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "indicated a preference" functions as a verb phrase, where "indicated" is the verb showing the act of pointing out or suggesting something, and "a preference" is the noun phrase representing the object of the indication. As Ludwig AI suggests, its grammatical status is correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Science

38%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

1%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "indicated a preference" is a versatile and grammatically correct phrase used to express that someone has shown a liking or inclination towards a particular option. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase is widely used in various contexts, primarily in news and media, and science publications. When using this phrase, ensure that the object of the preference is clearly specified to avoid ambiguity. Consider alternatives like "expressed a preference" or "showed a preference" to add variety to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

expressed a preference

Replaces "indicated" with "expressed", focusing on the act of verbalizing the preference.

showed a preference

Substitutes "indicated" with "showed", emphasizing the demonstration of the preference.

signaled a preference

Replaces "indicated" with "signaled", suggesting a less direct communication of the preference.

demonstrated a preference

Uses "demonstrated" instead of "indicated", highlighting the active display of the preference through actions.

favored

A shorter, more direct verb that encapsulates the idea of preference without explicitly stating it.

leaned towards

Conveys a slight inclination, suggesting that the preference is not firmly established.

inclined toward

Similar to "leaned towards" but slightly more formal.

had a penchant for

Indicates a strong liking or habitual preference, often for something specific.

expressed an inclination for

More elaborate than "indicated a preference", highlighting a leaning towards something.

revealed a bias towards

Implies a slightly unfair or prejudiced leaning, which might be unintentional.

FAQs

How to use "indicated a preference" in a sentence?

Use "indicated a preference" to show that someone has shown that they like something more than another option. For example, "The survey results "indicated a preference" for home-based learning."

What can I say instead of "indicated a preference"?

You can use alternatives like "expressed a preference", "showed a preference", or "favored" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "indicated a preference" or "stated a preference"?

"Indicated a preference" suggests a less direct expression of choice, while "stated a preference" implies a clear, explicit declaration. The best choice depends on how directly the preference was communicated.

What's the difference between "indicated a preference" and "suggested a preference"?

"Indicated a preference" means a preference was shown. "Suggested a preference" implies the preference was insinuated rather than explicitly shown.