takes preference

USAGE SUMMARY

"takes preference" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to indicate that one thing is more relevant, more important, or has a higher priority than another. For example, "In our household, safety takes preference over convenience."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The Fuzzy scenario takes preference uncertainty into consideration and uses stricter standards to judge whether customers buy products with new technology.

Expert Systems with Applications

"Juergen Braehmer is the next mandatory but who knows if that will materialise because if a unification came in, that automatically takes preference over a mandatory.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

The first takes preferences more seriously, while the second guarantees the existence of a preferred answer set for programs possessing at least one answer set.

Artificial Intelligence

Which cities take preference?

The Guardian - Music

The judges will take preference to images taken in free and wild conditions".

The Guardian - Arts

The government argues that by taking preference shares, the taxpayer will have first call on dividends.

The Guardian - Opinion

For the past three decades, this belief that wellbeing should take preference over material growth has remained a global oddity.

The Guardian

This paper proposes fuzzy PLDM that combines fuzzy theory with CA to take preference uncertainty into consideration.

Expert Systems with Applications

There may come a time at some point down the line where other races may take preference, but for 2015, it's the Tour.

The Guardian - Sport

But with a gap of eight points between the defending Super League champions, Leeds, and the top eight, points are now taking preference over performance for the Rhinos.

The Guardian - Sport

The housing will be awarded by lottery, but residents of Harlem will take preference for at least 30percentt of the units, city officials said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "takes preference" when indicating a deliberate decision to prioritize one thing over another, especially in formal or technical contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "takes preference" interchangeably with "takes priority" in situations where a strict, established order is necessary; "takes priority" suggests an inherent, often non-negotiable precedence, while "takes preference" implies a choice based on current needs or desires.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "takes preference" functions as a verb phrase, indicating that one thing is chosen or given more importance than another. Ludwig examples illustrate its use in formal writing and expert systems contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "takes preference" is a grammatically correct way to express that one thing is prioritized or considered more important than another. Although Ludwig identifies it as relatively rare in usage, it finds its place in both scientific and news-related contexts. When using the phrase, it's important to remember that it implies a deliberate choice or a system of prioritization, distinguishing it from synonyms like "takes priority", which suggests a non-negotiable precedence. By understanding these nuances, writers can effectively use "takes preference" to convey precise meanings in their writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

takes precedence

Changes from a general preference to a more formal declaration of order.

has priority

Emphasizes the concept of having a higher claim or importance.

is prioritized

Highlights the action of giving something preference.

is given priority

Similar to "is prioritized" but uses a passive construction.

is favored

Focuses on being chosen or liked more than others.

is preferred

Indicates a choice based on liking something more.

is given preference

States that something is actively granted a higher status.

outranks

Implies a hierarchical superiority in rank or position.

supersedes

Denotes the act of replacing something older or less effective.

comes first

A simple and direct way of saying something is the most important.

FAQs

How can I use "takes preference" in a sentence?

You can use "takes preference" to indicate that one thing is prioritized over another, such as: "In this project, functionality "takes preference" over aesthetics."

What are some alternatives to saying "takes preference"?

Alternatives include "takes precedence", "has priority", or "is prioritized", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "takes preference" the same as "gives preference"?

No, "takes preference" implies something is inherently more important or is being deliberately chosen, while "gives preference" suggests actively assigning a higher value or priority to something.

Which is correct: "takes preference" or "is taking preference"?

"Takes preference" is generally correct. "Is taking preference" could be used in a continuous tense if the act of prioritizing is ongoing, but "takes preference" is more common for general statements.