prefer

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "prefer" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you would rather have one thing than another, or when you would like one thing better than another. Example sentence: I'd prefer to stay at home than go out tonight.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Lifestyle

Opinion

Film

Music

Sport

Tech

Travel

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The graph reveals different intensities in his communications with various students, for example, which might reflect their different communication preferences (maybe they prefer face-to-face talks rather than email), or it might indicate that some are getting more supervisory attention than others.

The Guardian - Tech

A preference for DiCaprio, though, isn't simply hormonal downtime – who you'd prefer when you're not choosing for genes – but rather an indication of preferences in the longer term.

The Guardian - Film

As always if you have any problems posting a comment, or would prefer to comment anonymously, email us at [email protected] and we'll add your views to the thread.

The Guardian

We prefer Muzu or YouTube, but Spotify, SoundCloud or Grooveshark are fine.

The Guardian - Music

Some people thrive on strife and stress, while others prefer total tedium.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

We live in a culture obsessed with offence, which is not in itself a bad thing – most of us would agree that we would prefer not to anger or upset other people if we can help it.

The Guardian - Opinion

There is a lot at stake and a lot of potential here, but the coalition seems to prefer shale gas, even though it is problematic, than this cheap and readily available form of fuel".

The Guardian

For those who prefer actual songs, with melodies and lyrics, Leonard Cohen's Popular Problems comes out the same day, continuing one of the few great career renaissances to have been necessitated by being robbed blind by one's manager.

The Guardian

Yet one thing remains certain: the proliferation of media platforms can only be good news for viewers, no matter how we prefer to watch.

The Guardian

It's a shame however that he has always seemed to prefer his own voice to playing the music that Radio 1 is supposed to be about.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

And I'd prefer two shelves or attractive boxes/baskets/ conmtainers (sic) on one.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "prefer", specify the alternatives being considered. This provides context and makes your preference more understandable.

Common error

Avoid using "prefer" without explicitly stating what is being preferred over something else. For example, instead of saying "I prefer coffee", specify "I prefer coffee to tea."

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "prefer" is as a transitive verb, indicating the act of choosing one thing over another. Ludwig examples show this usage in various contexts such as "I prefer tea to coffee" and "they prefer face-to-face talks".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

39%

Lifestyle

12%

Opinion

7%

Less common in

Film

5%

Music

5%

Sport

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "prefer" is a versatile verb used to express a choice or stronger liking for one option over another. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and frequently used in various contexts, especially in news and media. To ensure clarity, always specify what is being preferred and the alternative. Related phrases like "would rather" and "opt for" can be used to add nuance to your expression of preference.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

would rather

Expresses a stronger inclination or choice.

favor

Suggests a leaning towards something, often in a more formal context.

lean towards

Indicates a tendency or inclination without a firm decision.

opt for

Implies a deliberate choice from available options.

gravitate towards

Suggests a natural attraction or inclination.

choose

A general term for selecting one option over others.

tend to

Indicates a habitual or common inclination.

have a preference for

A more formal way of expressing a liking for something.

be inclined to

Suggests a predisposition or leaning towards something.

desire

Implies a wish or longing for something.

FAQs

How to use "prefer" in a sentence?

You can use "prefer" to express that you like something more than something else, such as "I "prefer tea to coffee"" or to state a general preference, like "I "prefer to stay home" tonight".

What can I say instead of "prefer"?

You can use alternatives like "favor", "would rather", or "opt for" depending on the specific context.

Which is correct, "prefer to do" or "prefer doing"?

Both "prefer to do" and "prefer doing" are grammatically correct, but they have slightly different meanings. "Prefer to do" emphasizes a specific action, while "prefer doing" refers to a general activity. For example, "I "prefer to read"" (specific action) vs "I "prefer reading"" (general activity).

What's the difference between "prefer" and "like"?

"Prefer" indicates a stronger inclination or choice than "like". "Like" simply means you enjoy something, while "prefer" means you enjoy it more than something else. For example, you might "like both tea and coffee", but "prefer coffee" in the morning.