of their preference

USAGE SUMMARY

'of their preference' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to talk about someone's particular preference or choice. For example: The students have the option of selecting the type of classes they attend, of their preference.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Across this network, saplings were observed irrespective of their preference to ungulates in the 1970s, but preferred species were rarer within disturbed sites in the 1990s after long-term culling and despite nationwide increases in sapling densities.

Biological Conservation

Participants were asked which of the two neighborhood types they would prefer to live in, and the strength of their preference, assuming housing cost, quality of schools and mix of people were similar in both neighborhoods.

Environmental Health Perspectives

American officials make no secret of their preference for other candidates.

The Economist

Then, these numbers are ranked on the basis of their preference ratio.

Fuzzy Sets and Systems

Recent findings suggest that people may vary in the strength of their preference toward supernormal stimuli.

Personality and Individual Differences

Most EU leaders made little secret of their preference: a second referendum that delivers a yes vote.

The Economist

Many cancer patients die in the hospital, in spite of their preference to end their lives at home.

Italian Journal of Medicine

Instead of just voting 1, people would be advised to fill in at least six boxes in the order of their preference.

The Guardian

Two of the other judges, Lucasta and Sue, have written elsewhere of their preference for Coetzee, so the voting can hardly be a secret.

The Guardian - Books

But rather than confining citizens to vote for a single candidate, they would be given the opportunity to rank candidates in order of their preference.

The New York Times

To describe Chinese nursing home residents' knowledge of advance directive (AD) and end-of-life care preferences and to explore the predictors of their preference for AD.

Journal of the American Medical Directors Association

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "of their preference", ensure that the possessive pronoun "their" clearly refers to a specific group or individual to avoid ambiguity. For example, clarify: "Students can select courses of their preference" by specifying the group of students.

Common error

Avoid using "of their preference" when the possessive pronoun is unclear or grammatically incorrect. For example, avoid saying "The company offers products of customer preference", which can be made more precise by specifying "The company offers products of the customers' preference" or, even better, "The company offers products customers prefer.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "of their preference" functions as a prepositional phrase that modifies a noun, specifying that something aligns with or is chosen based on someone's personal liking or inclination. This is supported by Ludwig AI, which confirms its correct usage. The phrase indicates a quality or attribute related to choice.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

25%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "of their preference" is a grammatically correct and frequently used prepositional phrase, as validated by Ludwig AI. It effectively conveys the idea of something being in accordance with someone's personal choice or liking. Its neutral-to-professional tone makes it versatile for various contexts, notably science, news, and academic writing. When employing this phrase, ensure the possessive pronoun is clear to avoid ambiguity, and consider more formal alternatives like "according to their inclination" for specialized contexts. With a wealth of examples, Ludwig confirms its broad applicability and semantic clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

according to their choice

This alternative highlights the act of choosing based on personal desire.

based on their inclination

This emphasizes a natural tendency or urge as the basis for selection.

consistent with their tastes

Focuses on alignment with personal aesthetic or sensory preferences.

in accordance with their desires

Implies a stronger level of wanting or longing guiding the decision.

reflecting their predilection

Highlights a pre-existing bias or leaning towards something.

as per their wishes

Emphasizes compliance with someone's expressed desire or instruction.

following their lead

Highlights the act of taking direction from the decision of others.

aligning with their priorities

This connects the selection to a broader set of values or objectives.

chosen by their volition

Highlights an act of will and conscious decision.

at their discretion

Emphasizes the freedom and autonomy in making a decision.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "of their preference" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider alternatives like "according to their inclination", "based on their predilection", or "in accordance with their desires".

Is "of their preference" interchangeable with "according to their preference"?

While similar, "according to their preference" emphasizes adherence to a specified choice, whereas "of their preference" generally indicates a characteristic or inclination.

What are some common words that are combined with the phrase "of their preference"?

The phrase "of their preference" is often used in conjunction with words like "school", "treatment", "seed", or "time", to specify choices related to these nouns.

Is it always necessary to include a possessive pronoun before "preference"?

Yes, the phrase typically requires a possessive pronoun (e.g., "his", "her", "their") to clearly indicate whose preference is being referred to, as in "of his preference" or "of her preference".