indifferent between

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "indifferent between" is correct and usable in written English.
It generally means feeling that there is no difference between two or more things, or being uncertain between them. For example, "I am indifferent between the two restaurants; they both look good to me."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Right now, consumers are generally indifferent between similarly-priced goods with wildly different carbon profiles.

The Economist

Schools are never indifferent between searching and not searching.

IZA Journal of Labor Economics

The IE conditions are indifferent between cash or in-kind transfers or taxes.

Public Finance A Normative Theory

Hence, this agent would remain indifferent between this new bundle and her actual choice.

SERIEs

As before, rich and poor have to be indifferent between the locations they choose.

Latin American Economic Review

Accordingly, risk neutral investors are indifferent between the two organizational forms.

Business Research

In other words, the user is initially considered to be indifferent between service provision choices.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

This implies that the consumer is initially indifferent between the two fuels.

European Transport Research Review

Suppose you are indifferent between two propositions, \(p\) and \ q\), that cannot be simultaneously true.

SEP

That does not make it irrational to be indifferent between alternatives.

SEP

It's the price that makes you indifferent between buying and selling gamble $f$.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "indifferent between", ensure that the context clearly specifies the options being compared to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "indifferent between" when there is a clear preference but the difference is negligible. Indifference implies a genuine lack of preference, not just a small difference.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "indifferent between" functions as an adjective phrase, modifying a noun or pronoun to describe a state of having no preference between two or more options. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a usable English phrase. This is consistent with examples found in Ludwig, where it typically precedes the items being compared.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

75%

News & Media

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "indifferent between" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression to convey a lack of preference between two or more options. As Ludwig AI highlights, the phrase is widely accepted and commonly used across a diverse spectrum of contexts, from scientific research and news reporting to business communications. Common applications include expressing neutrality in decision-making, describing consumer behavior, and illustrating theoretical scenarios in economics and other fields. When using the phrase, ensure that the options being compared are clearly defined to avoid ambiguity. Although the phrase is widely accepted, related alternatives like "having no preference between" or "equally inclined toward" may be used for stylistic variation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

having no preference between

Emphasizes the absence of a favored option.

feeling neutral about

Highlights the neutrality of the feeling.

having no strong feelings about

Emphasizes the absence of intense emotions.

disinterested in

Suggests a lack of interest, which can overlap with indifference.

equally inclined toward

Focuses on equal inclination rather than indifference.

impartial to

Conveys fairness and lack of favoritism.

unbiased toward

Suggests a lack of bias rather than indifference.

unconcerned with

Suggests a lack of concern or worry.

ambivalent about

Implies mixed feelings, which differs slightly from indifference.

nonchalant about

Implies a casual lack of concern.

FAQs

How to use "indifferent between" in a sentence?

Use "indifferent between" to indicate a lack of preference between two or more options. For example, "I am "indifferent between" tea and coffee."

What can I say instead of "indifferent between"?

You can use alternatives such as "having no preference between", "equally inclined toward", or "feeling neutral about" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "indifferent between" or "indifferent to"?

"Indifferent between" is used when comparing two or more specific options. "Indifferent to" is used when expressing a general lack of interest or concern.

What's the difference between "indifferent between" and "neutral about"?

"Indifferent between" emphasizes a lack of preference in a choice, whereas "neutral about" suggests a lack of bias or opinion.