they preferred having

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "they preferred having" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when expressing a preference for a particular action or state of being. Example: "They preferred having a quiet evening at home rather than going out to a party."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

They wanted perfection, and they preferred having the flaws and blemishes of their leaders concealed.

The New York Times

Besides the obvious benefit of keeping predators away from young computer users, detectives said they preferred having no children involved because disbelieving young victims can impede investigations.

The New York Times

Parisians I spoke to seemed pretty happy with automation although some did say they preferred having drivers.

BBC

In fact, many of the kids said they preferred having grandparents attend games, because they are more joyful and less pressurizing than parents.

HuffPost

The studios did (and do) this not because they surveyed their customers, and found they preferred having to wait to watch movies they wanted to see in the way they wanted to see them.

Huffington Post

They preferred having personal contact with employees.

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

A sample of patients with breast cancer [ 57] showed that patients who participated in decision making as much as they preferred had lower depression scores than patients who participated less than preferred.

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

They prefer having a lump sum to an inflation-linked income.

The Economist

And remember that skeptics do not like being helped; they prefer having people think they know something already.

Harvard Business Review

But it turns out they prefer having nooks and crannies they can hide away in and just be away from everybody".

The New York Times

But better golfers typically eschew offset irons because they prefer having most of the club's weight in the center hitting area.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "they preferred having", ensure that the context clearly establishes who "they" refers to, avoiding ambiguity for the reader. For example: "The students preferred having open-book exams because it reduced test anxiety."

Common error

Avoid using "they preferred having" when a simple past tense like "they preferred to have" is more concise and clear, unless emphasizing the ongoing or habitual nature of the preference is crucial. Choose the construction that best suits the intended meaning and flow of your sentence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they preferred having" functions as a clause element, specifically part of a verb phrase expressing a past preference. Ludwig AI indicates this is correct and usable, aligning with examples where it introduces a chosen state or possession.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "they preferred having" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase for expressing a past preference, as affirmed by Ludwig AI. It is most commonly found in news and scientific contexts. When writing, it's useful to ensure the referent of "they" is clear and consider whether "they preferred to have" provides a more concise alternative. Related phrases include "they favored having" and "their preference was to have", offering subtle variations in emphasis. Despite its correctness, it's not the most frequent construction; simpler alternatives might sometimes be favored for clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they favored having

Indicates a positive inclination towards having something, similar to preferring but potentially stronger.

their preference was to have

Rephrases the preference in a more formal, declarative manner.

they chose to have

Focuses on the act of choosing, highlighting a decision-making process that led to possessing something.

they would rather have

Expresses a direct comparison and selection between alternatives, implying a clearer choice.

they wanted to have

Expresses a desire or wish to possess something, subtly different from a deliberate preference.

they leaned towards having

Suggests a tendency or inclination, implying a less decisive preference.

they were inclined to have

Similar to 'leaned towards', indicating a predisposition rather than a firm preference.

they were disposed to have

A more formal way of saying they were inclined or ready to have something.

they had a bias towards having

Indicates a pre-existing inclination or prejudice in favor of having something.

they were more likely to have

Shifts the focus to probability and likelihood, rather than a conscious preference.

FAQs

How can I use "they preferred having" in a sentence?

Use "they preferred having" to express a past preference for a particular situation or possession. For example: "The committee "they preferred having" the meeting in person rather than online".

What's a more formal alternative to "they preferred having"?

A more formal alternative is "their preference was to have". For example: "Their preference was to have the contract reviewed by legal counsel before signing".

Is it grammatically correct to say "they preferred to have" instead of "they preferred having"?

Yes, both "they preferred having" and "they preferred to have" are grammatically correct. The choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey. "They preferred having" emphasizes the experience or state, while "they preferred to have" focuses on the action of possessing.

What's the difference between "they preferred having" and "they would rather have"?

"They preferred having" expresses a general past preference, while "they would rather have" indicates a choice between two specific options. For example: "They preferred having a flexible work schedule" versus "They would rather have a shorter commute than a larger office".