prefer with

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "prefer with" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It is not commonly used and may lead to confusion regarding what is being preferred or in what context. Example: "I prefer with chocolate ice cream over vanilla" is unclear and should be rephrased.

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

21 human-written examples

But we decided to focus on red wines, which many people will prefer with their seder meal.

The New York Times - Food

Our approach means no compromises — you get to use whatever kind of device you prefer, with peripherals you choose, to run the apps you love.

The Guardian - Tech

Somehow overlooked was the probability that most New Yorkers would prefer, with all respect, to lose a janitor before sacrificing a cop on the beat.

The New York Times

Either way, its deliciously briny liquid complements the meat's chewy texture, and there is enough of it to create a brothy stew (or chowder if you prefer) with a distinctive flavor.

The New York Times - Food

Chris Irwin, who lives outside London, was irked by the third multiple-choice question, which asked what "incentive" translators would prefer, with five nonmonetary choices including an upgraded LinkedIn account and none ("because it's fun").

The New York Times - Tech

Experiences are atomised into their component parts, the extraneous excised in an attempt to maximise the impact of the parts we prefer, with no thought to how their context changes them.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

Gentleman (elderly preferred) with few outside interests required to run a national financial system.

The Guardian - Business

On Pt(1 1 0) a hollow site is preferred, with adsorption energy of −32 kJ mol−1.

Electrochimica Acta

The latter iterative scheme is to be preferred, with the possibility of parallel implementations.

Journal of Computational Physics

Also, with the same reason, regiorandom structure is preferred with a limited degree of polymerization.

Nanoscale Research Letters

Low pH condition was preferred with the optimum pH found to be 6.

Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "prefer with" in formal writing. Instead, use established phrases like "prefer to", "prefer something over something", or "have a preference for" to maintain grammatical correctness and clarity.

Common error

The phrase "prefer with" is often mistakenly used in place of "prefer to" or "prefer something over something". Remember that "prefer" typically requires an infinitive ("prefer to do") or a direct object followed by "over" when comparing options.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "prefer with" typically functions as part of a verb phrase where 'prefer' indicates a choice or inclination. However, this construction is generally considered grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI indicates that this phrase does not convey a clear meaning in written English and may lead to confusion.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Science

38%

Wiki

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "prefer with" is frequently encountered but grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI confirms its non-standard usage, advising against its use due to potential for confusion. While "prefer with" appears across various contexts—News & Media, Science, and Wiki—it's crucial to opt for grammatically sound alternatives like "prefer to", "prefer something over something", or "have a preference for". These alternatives ensure clarity and maintain grammatical correctness in both formal and informal writing. Pay close attention to avoiding this common error to uphold the quality and precision of your communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have a preference for something

This is a more formal way of expressing a liking for something.

would rather something

This expresses a choice with a sense of comparative desirability.

choose something over something

This clearly indicates a selection between two options, favoring one.

prefer something over something

This construction explicitly states a comparison, highlighting one choice as more desirable than another.

favor something over something

Similar to "prefer over", this option indicates a leaning towards one option in comparison to another.

opt for something

A straightforward way of saying you choose one thing over another.

lean towards something

This phrase suggests a tendency or inclination towards a particular choice.

be inclined to something

This implies a predisposition or tendency towards a particular option.

gravitate towards something

This suggests a natural attraction or inclination towards something.

have a liking for something

Indicates a positive sentiment towards something.

FAQs

How can I correctly use the word "prefer" in a sentence?

You can use "prefer" with an infinitive (e.g., "I "prefer to eat" pasta"), or when comparing two things using "over" (e.g., "I "prefer tea over coffee""). You can also use "have a preference for".

What's a more grammatically sound alternative to "prefer with"?

Instead of "prefer with", try "prefer to" followed by a verb, or express preference between two objects with "prefer A over B". For example, "I "prefer to walk"" or "I "prefer cats over dogs"".

Is "prefer with" ever correct in English?

Generally, "prefer with" is not considered standard English. While some instances might be understood contextually, it's best to use established grammatical structures to avoid ambiguity and ensure clarity.

What is the difference between "prefer to" and "prefer with"?

"Prefer to" is a grammatically correct construction used to express a general preference for an action (e.g., "I "prefer to read""), while "prefer with" is generally incorrect. A correct alternative when comparing items is "prefer something over something".