less preference

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "less preference" is not commonly used in written English and may sound awkward.
It can be used when discussing a situation where someone has a lower preference for one option compared to another, but it is better to use more standard expressions. Example: "In this case, I have less preference for option A than for option B."

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

33 human-written examples

The common waterbuck and the defassa waterbuck in the same area may differ in their choices; it has been observed that while the former preferred Heteropogon contortus and Cynodon dactylon, the latter showed less preference for these grasses.

Wikipedia

"In industry or manufacturing, the new decision will in some way have less preference for the UK.

The Guardian

We propose that people view SSBs more negatively and show less preference for SSBs when they are able to concretely visualize the quantity of sugar in SSBs.

Appetite

The results of this process showed a preference for institutional commitment and example setting/leadership criteria, with weights of 36.1%and 38.2% respectively, and less preference for the advancing sustainability criterion, with a weight of 25.7%.

Journal of Cleaner Production

In this case, the outlier ranks have less preference.

Journal of Industrial Engineering International

MR rats emitted fewer ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) and showed less preference for ethanol than did MNR animals.

Duke University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

27 human-written examples

The household survey has shown a less marked preference for Democrats, whose edge is 6.7percentto4.8percentcent.

The New York Times

When China affirms its cooperative intentions and denies a military challenge, it expresses less a preference than the strategic realities.

The Washington Post

He is governed, above all, by his faith in the ultimate power of transaction — an encompassing perversion of realism that is less a preference for putting interests ahead of values than a belief that interests have no place for values.

The New Yorker

As expected, the gains are larger for less uniform preference distributions and the gain with respect to PNC increases with the packet loss ratio ε.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

For GPs, as generalists, and patients themselves a less distinct preference might be expected.

BMC Health Services Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing choices, clarify what the subject has "less preference" for to provide context, for example, "They showed "less preference" for the blue option over the red one."

Common error

Avoid using "less preference" when "no preference" is more accurate. "Less preference" indicates a slight inclination away from something, whereas "no preference" indicates indifference.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "less preference" functions as a modifier indicating a reduced degree of liking or inclination towards something. It often appears in comparative contexts, showing a comparison between different options or choices. Ludwig AI suggests that although acceptable, it can sound awkward and can be replaced with more standard expressions.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

68%

News & Media

16%

Academia

12%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "less preference" is used to indicate a reduced liking or inclination towards something, often in comparison to something else. While grammatically acceptable, Ludwig AI analysis suggests it can sometimes sound awkward. The examples showcase usage across science, news, and academic contexts, and is deemed to have a neutral register.

Alternatives such as "lower preference" or "reduced preference" may provide a smoother, more natural sound. When using "less preference", ensure the context clarifies what the diminished preference pertains to, avoiding confusion with "no preference", which indicates complete indifference.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

lower preference

Uses "lower" instead of "less" to describe the degree of preference, maintaining a similar semantic meaning.

reduced preference

Employs "reduced" to convey a diminished level of preference.

decreased inclination

Substitutes "preference" with "inclination" and "less" with "decreased" to express a similar concept.

smaller inclination

Uses "smaller" to describe the inclination.

lesser inclination

Replaces the word "preference" with "inclination", conveying a reduced leaning or tendency.

diminished liking

Replaces "preference" with "liking" and "less" with "diminished", focusing on the emotional aspect of preference.

weakened interest

Uses "interest" as a proxy for preference, indicating a reduced level of enthusiasm.

limited favor

Expresses the idea of having less preference by indicating a restricted amount of favor.

fewer predilections

Replaces "preference" with "predilections", suggesting a decrease in the number of things someone is predisposed to like.

reduced appetite

Substitutes "preference" with "appetite", indicating a decrease in desire or enthusiasm.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "less preference" to sound more natural?

Consider using alternatives such as "lower preference" or "reduced preference". These options often create a smoother and more common expression.

Is it grammatically correct to say "less preference"?

While grammatically acceptable, some style guides suggest it can sound awkward. Using alternatives like "lower preference" might improve clarity and flow.

What's the difference between "less preference" and "no preference"?

"Less preference" implies a slight disinclination, whereas "no preference" suggests complete indifference. Choose the phrase that accurately reflects the degree of inclination.

In what situations is "less preference" most appropriate?

Use "less preference" when comparing options and indicating a slight disinclination toward one. For instance, "I have "less preference" for coffee than tea" suggests you still like coffee, just not as much as tea.