they have preferred

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "they have preferred" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a choice or inclination that has been established in the past and continues to the present. Example: "In recent surveys, they have preferred the new product line over the old one."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

28 human-written examples

To date, they have preferred breezy slogans.

The Economist

They have preferred bonds instead, perhaps ill advisedly.

The New York Times

They have preferred not even to ask it.

The Guardian - Sport

They have preferred a version of diversity focused on elites from every race.

The New York Times

They have preferred to court attention in circuitous, free-form ways.

The Guardian - Music

By and large, they have preferred opportunity to levelling; equality of opportunity rather than equality of outcome.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

32 human-written examples

They make little use of the autonomy they have, preferring to rely on transfers from the centre to deal with financial shortfalls, says the OECD's Hansjörg Blöchliger.

The Economist

Writer-directors who devise work in this way generally have not decided the theme of the piece or, even if they have, prefer their actors not to know.

The Guardian

If only they had preferred figs in the first place, we might all still live in Eden.

The New Yorker

So far they've preferred to remain a relatively loose coalition, and that requires leaders more adept at coordinating and cajoling than at summiteering.

The New York Times

They had preferred to sit as they did of an evening in the piazza drinking "baby gin and tonics", and taking note of the world.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider alternatives like "they chose" or "they favored" for conciseness, especially if the timeframe is already established.

Common error

Avoid using "they have preferred" if the preference is no longer valid or has changed. Use "they preferred" to indicate a past preference that is no longer current.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they have preferred" functions as a verb phrase indicating a consistent choice or inclination over time. It suggests a present perfect aspect, implying that the preference started in the past and continues to influence the present.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

56%

Science

28%

Wiki

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Encyclopedias

4%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "they have preferred" is a grammatically correct and commonly used verb phrase that indicates a group's consistent choice or inclination over time. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase is suitable for various contexts, primarily appearing in news and media, but also science, and other fields. It's essential to use "they have preferred" when the preference is ongoing; otherwise, "they preferred" should be used. When writing, ensure that the subject "they" is clearly defined to avoid ambiguity. For alternative phrasing consider options like "they have chosen", "they have opted for", or "they have favored".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they have chosen

Focuses on the act of selecting one option over others.

they have opted for

Emphasizes a deliberate decision to select a particular course of action.

they have favored

Highlights a partiality or leaning towards something.

they have leaned towards

Suggests a tendency or inclination without a definitive choice.

they have gravitated to

Implies a natural movement or attraction towards something.

they have inclined to

Indicates a predisposition or willingness to do something.

they have been more inclined to

Adds a sense of degree, emphasizing that they have been generally disposed towards a particular option.

they have demonstrated a preference for

Highlights the expression of a liking or partiality through action.

they have shown a tendency towards

Focuses on the observable pattern of behavior indicating an inclination.

their preference has been for

Rephrases the original sentence to focus on the preference itself as the subject.

FAQs

What does "they have preferred" mean?

The phrase "they have preferred" indicates that a group has consistently chosen or favored something over a period of time up to the present.

When should I use "they preferred" instead of "they have preferred"?

Use "they preferred" when the preference is in the past and no longer applies. Use "they have preferred" when the preference continues to the present. For example, "In the past, "they preferred tea", but now they drink coffee."

What can I say instead of "they have preferred"?

You can use alternatives like "they have chosen", "they have opted for", or "they have favored" depending on the specific context.

Is "they would have preferred" grammatically correct?

Yes, "they would have preferred" is grammatically correct. It expresses a hypothetical preference in the past. For example, "They would have preferred a different outcome, but it was not possible."