is favourable over

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is favourable over" is not commonly used in written English and may sound awkward.
It can be used when comparing two options, indicating a preference for one over the other, but "favourable to" is more standard. Example: "The new policy is favourable over the previous one in terms of employee satisfaction."

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Currently being crowd funded on Kickstarter, the BeON Burglar Deterrent is a set of LED-lightbulbs based on the premise that crime prevention is favourable over crime detection.

TechCrunch

This extended approach is favourable over the existing technique, which lists the results by either the setscore or setsize, in assessing the therapeutics influence on the compiled signature.

Plosone

Backwards elimination will be used as it is favourable over forwards or stepwise selection.

BMJ Open

Integration of the reporter gene onto the chromosome is favourable over expression from a plasmid to ensure stable and homogenous expression levels throughout the microbial population and remove the need for antibiotic selection often required to maintain plasmids.

FEMS Microbiology Reviews

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Composite risers with different metallic liners are studied, and the titanium liner riser is found to be favourable over the steel and aluminum liner risers.

Ocean Engineering

Treatment with chemoradiation is known to be favourable over radiation alone in anal cancer (Flam et al, 1996; Bartelink et al, 1997).

British Journal of Cancer

Are there other cases where an apparently leaky splicing mechanism could be favourable over the risk of erroneous transcription from a more promiscuous promoter?

BMC Biology

With regard to survival surgical treatment seems to be favourable over nonsurgical treatment in patients between 65 and 85 years of age.

BioMed Research International

Continuous TP infusion may be favourable over TP bolus infusion, because the latter approach has been reported to excessively increase SVRI and PVRI as well as decreases in HR and CI.

Critical Care

These findings confirm the theory that continuous TP infusion may be favourable over TP bolus infusion, because the latter approach has been reported to excessively increase SVRI and PVRI, as well as to decrease HR and CI [ 11].

Critical Care

The use of IWC was demonstrated to be favourable over ICC in low-risk patients referred to coronary artery bypass procedures, whereas ICC was shown to provide superior myocardial protection in high-risk populations requiring prolonged cross clamp times [ 4, 5].

BioMed Research International

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Opt for alternatives like "is preferable to" or "is better than" for clearer and more common phrasing. While "is favourable over" isn't incorrect, it can sound awkward to many native English speakers.

Common error

Avoid consistently using "is favourable over" in your writing. Vary your phrasing by using alternatives like "is preferable to", "is better than", or "is advantageous compared to" to maintain a natural and engaging tone. Overuse can make your writing sound repetitive and less professional.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is favourable over" functions as a comparative adjective phrase, indicating that one option or situation is considered more advantageous than another. As Ludwig AI notes, while understandable, it isn't the most common or stylistically elegant choice.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

37%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

13%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "is favourable over" is used to express that one option is better or more advantageous than another. However, Ludwig AI indicates that it's not the most common or elegant phrasing, with alternatives like "is preferable to" being more standard. While grammatically acceptable, it's recommended to use "is favourable over" sparingly and consider alternative phrasings to maintain clarity and naturalness in your writing. This phrase appears more frequently in scientific and news-related contexts, leaning towards a neutral to formal register. When aiming for clearer and more impactful communication, prioritizing alternatives will generally be beneficial.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is preferable to

Replaces "favourable over" with a more standard and widely accepted alternative.

is preferred over

Similar to "is preferable to" but uses a different verb form.

is better than

A simpler and more direct way to express preference.

is a better choice than

Suggests a recommended option based on its advantages.

is advantageous compared to

Highlights the benefits of one option relative to another.

is more beneficial than

Focuses on the positive outcomes of choosing one option.

is superior to

Emphasizes the higher quality or effectiveness of one option.

is more suitable than

Indicates that one option is better aligned with specific needs or requirements.

is more desirable than

Highlights the attractiveness or appeal of one option over another.

outweighs

Implies that the benefits of one option are greater than the drawbacks of another.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to "is favourable over"?

You can use alternatives like "is preferable to", "is better than", or "is advantageous compared to" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "is favourable over"?

While grammatically acceptable, it's best to use "is favourable over" sparingly. Consider using it when you want to emphasize a slight advantage, but be aware that other phrases may sound more natural to native English speakers.

Is "is favourable to" the same as "is favourable over"?

"Is favourable to" indicates that something supports or benefits another thing. It's about providing an advantage. Whereas "is favourable over" attempts to compare two things, indicating that one is better. Using "is favourable to" is not interchangeable with "is favourable over".

What makes "is preferable to" a better choice than "is favourable over"?

"Is preferable to" is a more common and widely accepted idiom. It's clearer, more concise, and less likely to sound awkward or unnatural in standard English writing.