preferred against

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "preferred against" is not standard in written English and may cause confusion.
It could be used in contexts where one option is favored over another, but it is not commonly used. Example: "In this situation, the option A is preferred against option B due to its efficiency."

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

25 human-written examples

"Paul Burrell denies absolutely the charges that have been preferred against him," Mr. Shaw said.

The New York Times

Analytical conditions are derived under which the two-step monitoring scheme is preferred against the individual charts in practice.

International Journal of Production Economics

Finally, the adaptation cases are evaluated to conclude in what situations a stronger, bigger or smarter grid is preferred against the uncertain future.

Electric Power Systems Research

The government must be prepared to accept the costs incurred by the seriousness of the charges that they have preferred against PFC Manning".

The Guardian

When this came to the attention of Grant's commanding officer, Hodges continued: "He gave Grant the option of resigning or having charges preferred against him.

The New York Times

And indeed he took this loss with immoderate sorrow being a man naturally of a mild and tender disposition and when the accusation was preferred against him, kept his house, and mourned amongst the women of his family.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

35 human-written examples

It turns out both monkeys were naturally big risk-takers, consistently preferring against-the-odds gambles with potentially high payoffs over much safer, smaller bets.

Johns Hopkins University

When it announced plans to prevent any person or institution in receipt of government money from using those funds to argue ("lobby", if you prefer) against official policy, this was widely interpreted as an attempt to silence unruly charities.

The Guardian - Opinion

p263 13 1 Directing these craft to the landing place, Seleucus and Pithon again tried to persuade the Macedonians to remove Eumenes from his command and to cease preferring against their own interests a man who was a foreigner and who had killed very many Macedonians.

University of Chicago

Wenger had preferred David Ospina against both Dinamo Zagreb and Olympiakos – and to disastrous effect in the second game.

The Guardian - Sport

When asked if he preferred playing against a quarterback with limited mobility, Dorsey smiled and said, "Of course".

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing preferences, consider using more common alternatives like "favored over" or "chosen over" for clearer communication.

Common error

Avoid using the phrase "preferred against" in formal writing where clarity and conventional grammar are paramount. Opt for more standard phrasings to maintain professionalism.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "preferred against" functions as a verb phrase indicating a comparison and selection, often implying that one option is chosen over another. Ludwig shows examples in scientific and legal contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

44%

News & Media

28%

Academia

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

8%

Wiki

4%

Formal & Business

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "preferred against" is grammatically acceptable but less common than alternatives like "favored over". Ludwig indicates that it appears mostly in science, news and academia, suggesting a neutral register. While its meaning is clear—indicating a choice or prioritization—using more common alternatives can enhance clarity and acceptance. This is also highlighted by Ludwig's AI, which indicates that "preferred against" is not a standard phrase in written English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

preferred rather than

Conveys a preference using "rather than" for comparison.

favored over

Expresses a simple preference with a more common phrasing.

chosen over

Indicates a selection was made, prioritizing one option.

deemed superior to

Indicates that something is considered better than something else.

selected instead of

Highlights the act of picking one option in place of another.

thought better of

Expresses a change of mind in favor of a different option.

appointed in opposition to

Emphasizes appointment despite existing alternatives.

brought charges against

Focuses on the legal action of accusing someone.

leveled accusations at

Highlights the act of accusing someone.

laid charges against

Emphasizes the formal act of charging someone.

FAQs

What is a more common alternative to "preferred against"?

More common alternatives include "favored over", "chosen over", or "selected instead of", depending on the specific context.

How can I use "preferred against" in a sentence?

While "preferred against" is grammatically acceptable, it's less common. A sentence could be: "In this scenario, method A is preferred against method B due to its higher efficiency."

Is "preferred against" grammatically correct?

Yes, it's grammatically sound, but it's less frequently used than alternatives like "preferred to" or "favored over".

What's the difference between "preferred against" and "preferred to"?

"Preferred against" directly contrasts two options, implying one is chosen over the other. "Preferred to" simply indicates a general preference, without explicitly stating what it's preferred over.