it was preferred

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was preferred" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when indicating that something was favored or chosen over other options in the past. Example: "In the previous meeting, it was preferred that we focus on the budget before discussing other topics."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

51 human-written examples

In a press release, Hooters' chief marketing officer Dave Henninger said that the company has tested the logo with focus groups and found that "it was preferred 9 to 1 over our original logo".

Huffington Post

For targeted mass spectrometry, the instrument control software used a list of theoretical tryptic peptide masses for the proteins of interest for subsequent CID fragmentation, that is once a mass from the list was detected in the orbitrap full scan, it was preferred over all other co-eluting masses, independent of its signal intensity.

eLife

Granite being more durable than marble, it was preferred, but more expensive.

The New York Times

So successful, indeed, that Bartok came to resent that it was preferred to his more challenging later works.

The Guardian - Music

The poetry public, such as it was, preferred lavishly produced Christmas anthologies to actual books by poets.

The New Yorker

Even then, she noted, one superior told her it was preferred that she not identify herself as a V.A. nurse in any future letter writing.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

9 human-written examples

It is preferred by some because of speedy drying and matte effects.

Encyclopedia Britannica

It's preferred to rook for roasting (rocker with 't for r).

The Guardian

So it is preferred to NMPC.

Control Engineering Practice

Thus, it is preferred for practical implementation.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

It is preferred over product of probabilities to avoid underflow.

Complex Adaptive Systems Modeling

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "it was preferred", ensure the context clearly indicates what alternatives were considered and why the preferred option was chosen.

Common error

Avoid using "it was preferred" without specifying what was preferred over. Always provide the comparison to ensure clarity for the reader.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was preferred" functions as a passive voice construction indicating a choice or selection made in the past. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically sound and suitable for use in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

77%

News & Media

14%

Encyclopedias

6%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it was preferred" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase to indicate that something was chosen over another option in the past. Ludwig AI highlights its acceptability and provides several real-world examples. The phrase appears most frequently in scientific and news-related contexts, suggesting a neutral-to-formal register. When using "it was preferred", ensure to provide enough context to avoid ambiguity, clearly stating the options being compared. Consider alternatives like "it was favored" or "it was chosen" for stylistic variation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was favored

Replaces 'preferred' with 'favored', a direct synonym, slightly less formal.

it was chosen

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

it was selected

Similar to 'chosen', but implies a more deliberate and careful selection process.

it was opted for

Uses 'opted for' instead of 'preferred', suggesting a decision between alternatives.

it was desired

Replaces 'preferred' with 'desired', highlighting a stronger inclination or wish.

it was the better option

Expresses preference by stating superiority, implying a more objective evaluation.

it was the favored option

Combines 'favored' with 'option', clearly indicating a preferred choice.

the preference was for

Rephrases the sentence structure to emphasize the existence of a preference.

the choice was

Focuses on the selection aspect, simplifying the expression of preference.

the decision leaned towards

Implies that the final decision was in favor of the first choice.

FAQs

How can I use "it was preferred" in a sentence?

You can use "it was preferred" to indicate that something was chosen over another option. For example, "It was preferred to use the equation obtained for blood-to-plasma corrections rather than a constant value."

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

You can use alternatives like "it was favored", "it was chosen", or "it was selected" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "it was preferred" or "it is preferred"?

"It was preferred" indicates a past preference, while "it is preferred" indicates a current preference. Choose the tense that matches the time frame you're discussing.

What's the difference between "it was preferred" and "it was preferable"?

"It was preferred" indicates that a choice was made. "It was preferable" suggests that something was generally more suitable or desirable, but doesn't necessarily mean it was chosen.