Used and loved by millions

Since I tried Ludwig back in 2017, I have been constantly using it in both editing and translation. Ever since, I suggest it to my translators at ProSciEditing.

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak quote

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

MitStanfordHarvardAustralian Nationa UniversityNanyangOxford

prefer term

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "prefer term" is not correct in standard written English.
It may be intended to express a preference for a specific term or terminology, but it lacks clarity and context. Example: "In this discussion, I prefer the term 'sustainable development' over 'green growth.'"

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

If it was the preferred term, the resulting modified query was: q1 = "preferred term"[MeSH term] OR "preferred term"[all fields] OR ("word 1 of preferred term"[All Fields] AND "word 2 of preferred term"[All Fields] AND etc).

(Their preferred term is "sacred explosions").

News & Media

The New Yorker

Daesh is Andrews' preferred term for Isis.

News & Media

The Guardian

"The death tax punishes families for being successful," Mr. Hastert said, using the Republicans' preferred term for the estate tax.

News & Media

The New York Times

aMedDRA Version 11.1 preferred term.

The corresponding query was: q3 = 'preferred term"[MeSH term] OR (("preferred term"[TIAB] OR "entry term 1 [TIAB] OR "entry term 2 [TIAB] OR...) NOT Medline[SB]) (Table 1).

Descriptive summaries were used for safety measurements by treatment group and preferred term.

The only suicidality preferred term in the last version of COSTART (version 5) is suicide attempt.

In all three cases the original term reported by the investigator was coded to the COSTART preferred term depression.

At each level of summation (preferred term, system organ class and overall), each patient was counted only once.

The most frequently occurring SAEs were schizophrenia-related events (preferred term: schizophrenia, n = 19, 1.9%; psychotic disorder, n = 5, 0.5%).

Show more...

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always provide context when expressing a preference for a term. Explain why you prefer it and in what situations it is more appropriate.

Common error

A common mistake is omitting the article "the" between "prefer" and "term". It's grammatically incorrect to say "I prefer term 'sustainability'". Always use "I prefer the term 'sustainability'" or a similar construction.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

60%

Authority and reliability

1.5/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "prefer term" functions incorrectly as it misses the article "the". A correct sentence structure would be "prefer the term", which then introduces a noun phrase indicating a favored expression. As Ludwig AI confirms, this specific construction is not standard English.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "prefer term" is considered grammatically incorrect in standard written English, as indicated by Ludwig AI. The correct and commonly used form is "prefer the term", which expresses a preference for a specific word or expression. To improve clarity and grammatical accuracy, always include the article "the" when using this phrase. Alternative phrases like "favor the term" or "choose the term" can also be used. Remember to provide context to explain why you prefer a particular term for better understanding.

FAQs

How do I correctly use the phrase "prefer term" in a sentence?

The phrase "prefer term" is grammatically incorrect. You should use "prefer the term" followed by the specific term you like better. For example, "I "prefer the term" 'sustainable development' over 'green growth'.

What are some alternatives to saying "prefer term"?

Instead of "prefer term", you can say "favor the term", "choose the term", or "opt for the term". All these alternatives are more grammatically correct.

Is it correct to say "prefer term" or should I use another phrase?

It is not correct to say "prefer term". You should use alternatives such as ""prefer the term"", "favor the term", or other similar phrases to express your preference accurately.

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

"Prefer term" is grammatically incorrect. "Prefer the term" is the correct way to express that you like a particular term more than another. The article "the" is necessary for grammatical correctness.

ChatGPT power + Grammarly precisionChatGPT power + Grammarly precision
ChatGPT + Grammarly

Editing plus AI, all in one place.

Stop switching between tools. Your AI writing partner for everything—polishing proposals, crafting emails, finding the right tone.

Source & Trust

60%

Authority and reliability

1.5/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: