tastes

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "tastes" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing flavors, preferences, or experiences related to food or sensory perceptions. Example: "The dish has a variety of tastes that blend beautifully together."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Lifestyle

Music

Business

Travel

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

His tastes are harder to pin down: seemingly willing to turn his hand to whatever his clients desire, he builds folksy cottages in the Chilterns with one hand, while erecting soaring glass totems in China with the other.

The Guardian - Arts

The line-up for the prize is testament to the diverse tastes of fans and of the musicians working today.

The Guardian - Music

Each student will be given the opportunity to talk about their desires and fears and their past writing experience (if it applies), and their literary tastes.

The Guardian

The idea is to open the group up to each other's literary tastes and to widen the reading beyond the tutor's choices.

The Guardian

Tomato is one of the few foods that contains all five tastes, she informs us.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

And once you notice, it's downright eerie to hear the same arguments – about "out-of-touch elites" who don't connect with the tastes of "real people" – coming from the leader of Ukip and a guy who wrote a book called Summa Elvetica: A Casuistry of the Elvish Controversy.

The Guardian - Opinion

The neat thing about this is, you can play around with the ratio of herbs to suit your own tastes.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

You can see all the previous Hottest 100s, and a graph which shows how Australia's music tastes have changed, in this brilliant interactive by my colleague Nick Evershed.

The Guardian

There are five distinct tastes as it trickles over the tongue.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

As well as pressure on the streets outside, McDonald's faced some tough questions from its shareholders, angry at the company's failure to keep up with the changing tastes of consumers.

The Guardian - Business

I often wonder whether the unfathomably superior tastes I attribute to home-grown veg come from my heart rather than my taste buds, but Hicks assures me that it'll be because the food is picked at peak ripeness and eaten immediately.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "tastes" to refer to a diverse range of preferences in music, art, or fashion. For instance, "The festival caters to a wide variety of musical tastes."

Common error

In formal contexts, avoid relying solely on "tastes" when more precise language is available. Instead of saying "The report reflects the tastes of the committee", consider alternatives like "preferences", "inclinations", or "judgments" to convey nuanced meanings.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "tastes" is either a plural noun referring to preferences or a third-person singular verb meaning to experience flavor. Ludwig AI shows examples ranging from culinary contexts to broader aesthetic or personal inclinations. This aligns with Ludwig AI's assessment of its correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Lifestyle

20%

Music

10%

Less common in

Business

8%

Travel

6%

Science

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the term "tastes" can correctly function as both a noun and a verb and is very common in written English. According to Ludwig AI, its usage is appropriate across diverse contexts, ranging from culinary descriptions to expressing personal preferences. While ubiquitous, it's important to consider context and choose synonyms such as "preferences" or "palates" in formal settings for enhanced precision. Ludwig AI examples demonstrate its prevalence in news, lifestyle, and music-related content, highlighting its versatility and broad applicability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

preferences

Focuses specifically on choices and likes, rather than the broader sensory experience.

inclinations

Highlights a leaning or tendency towards something, often used for abstract concepts.

penchants

Emphasizes a strong liking or habit, suggesting a more pronounced preference.

predilections

Indicates a pre-existing fondness or bias, implying a formed preference.

palates

Refers specifically to the ability to discern and appreciate flavors.

sense of taste

Describes the physiological ability to perceive flavors and aromas.

discernment

Highlights the ability to make fine distinctions and judgments, often in aesthetic matters.

appreciations

Emphasizes the enjoyment and recognition of value in something.

favorite things

A more general term referring to liked objects, activities, or experiences.

what one enjoys

Focuses on the source of pleasure and satisfaction derived from something.

FAQs

How can I use "tastes" in a sentence?

You can use "tastes" to describe flavor profiles, as in "The sauce has a blend of sweet and savory tastes". Alternatively, you can use it to express preferences, such as "The event caters to a variety of musical tastes".

What are some synonyms for "tastes"?

Depending on the context, you can use synonyms like "preferences", "inclinations", "palates", or "discernment".

How does "tastes" differ from "preferences"?

"Tastes" can refer to both sensory experiences and general likes, while "preferences" primarily denote choices and likes. For instance, one might have "exotic tastes" in food (sensory) or a "preference" for classical music (choice).

Is it correct to say "different tastes" or "diverse tastes"?

Both "different tastes" and "diverse tastes" are correct. "Different tastes" simply indicates that people have varying preferences, while "diverse tastes" emphasizes the wide range of preferences within a group.