substantial preference for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "substantial preference for" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a strong inclination or favoring of one option over another in various contexts, such as research, surveys, or personal opinions. Example: "The study revealed a substantial preference for renewable energy sources among the participants."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

But while Pew says that voter views were broadly socialistic in the 1930s, its surveys indicate where American preferences actually fell:[W]hen asked if they had to make the choice would they opt for fascism or communism, the public expressed a substantial preference for fascism (39%) over communism (25%), while 36% offered no opinion.

The Economist

It was found that farmers have no substantial preference for whether the pasture grazing program is financed by the food industry, a governmental scheme, or the dairy company.

Journal of Dairy Science

AMBER-99SB shows a much lower helical content over this timescale than these helix-friendly force fields, along with substantial preference for turn and coil conformations.

Plosone

At the level of physiological function, it should be added that those cyclohexadienyl dehydrogenases that exhibit a very substantial preference for prephenate are for all practical purposes prephenate dehydrogenases, even though they carry a formal designation of TyrAc or TyrAc_Δ.

BMC Biology

As expected from the previous experiment, larvae appear indifferent after 1 min, but after 2 min and in particular after 4 min, a substantial preference for glucose is apparent.

Chemical Senses

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

The first segment has a very strong preference for the investment program having the largest total reduction in traffic deaths; the second segment assigns a substantial value to an equal distribution of reductions of traffic deaths across the Netherlands.

Journal of Transport Geography

These findings may reflect the sequence and ligand flexibility noted among the CRP/FNR protein family (Gomelsky, 2011), as well as the substantial preference (>60-fold) of XC_0249 for binding cyclic GMP rather than cyclic AMP.

EMBO Journal

HupBMtb displayed substantial preference in binding to AT rich DNA.

Plosone

However, substantial preference heterogeneity existed.

British Journal of Cancer

But even as he drew the line between entirely private reform plans, and his own preference for substantial government involvement in providing health insurance coverage, it was still pretty hard to find much that even any hard heart could disagree with.

Huffington Post

Subsequent analysis, however, of the importance of the individual amino acids relative to the central residue shows that the substrate preference of both kinases also displays substantial similarities, with preferences for arginine, isoleucine, lysine and alanine at −3, −2, −1 and +1 positions which are also preferred by c-Raf.

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "substantial preference for", ensure that the context clearly defines what is being preferred and why. Providing supporting evidence or explanation can strengthen the statement.

Common error

Avoid using "substantial preference for" if the actual preference is only slight or marginal. Ensure the evidence supports a significant or "substantial" difference in preference.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "substantial preference for" functions as a descriptive element, indicating a significant degree of liking or favouritism towards something. This is demonstrated in the provided examples from Ludwig, where it describes preferences in various contexts, such as political ideologies or scientific choices.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "substantial preference for" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase that indicates a significant inclination towards something. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, though it appears more frequently in scientific and news-related content. While alternatives like "strong inclination towards" or "marked predilection for" exist, the choice depends on the specific nuance you wish to convey. When using the phrase, ensure that the context clearly defines the object of preference and the reason behind it, avoiding overstatement of the actual degree of preference. Using this phrase, as Ludwig's examples show, can add clarity and precision to your writing by clearly expressing a notable inclination.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

strong inclination towards

Indicates a powerful tendency or leaning, emphasizing the direction of preference.

major leaning towards

Indicates a substantial tendency, similar to "strong inclination towards".

marked predilection for

Implies a noticeable and distinct liking, often suggesting a personal taste.

decided inclination for

Implies a firm and resolute preference.

significant bias toward

Suggests a leaning that might be considered unfair or unbalanced.

clear favoritism of

Indicates an overt preference, potentially implying partiality.

notable penchant for

Highlights a habitual liking or fondness, often for something specific.

pronounced leaning to

Emphasizes the direction and intensity of the preference.

distinct partiality to

Suggests a clear and evident bias in favor of something.

considerable appetite for

Implies a strong desire or enthusiasm, often related to consumption or experience.

FAQs

How can I use "substantial preference for" in a sentence?

Use "substantial preference for" to indicate a significant inclination towards something. For example, "The survey showed a substantial preference for hybrid cars among urban commuters".

What's the difference between "strong preference for" and "substantial preference for"?

"Substantial preference for" implies a noteworthy or considerable preference, while "strong preference for" suggests a more forceful or intense inclination. The choice depends on the degree of preference you want to convey.

What are some alternatives to "substantial preference for"?

You can use alternatives like "strong inclination towards", "marked predilection for", or "significant bias toward" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "substantial preference for" in formal writing?

Yes, "substantial preference for" is suitable for formal writing as it is grammatically correct and conveys a clear meaning. However, consider the specific context and audience to ensure it aligns with the overall tone.