to favour something over

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to favour something over" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when expressing a preference for one thing in comparison to another. Example: "Many people tend to favour chocolate ice cream over vanilla."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

I favour something quite simple: 'I am available for interview and I look forward to hearing from you soon'".

The Guardian

However, avidin could not be converted to favour binding of HABA over biotin.

Plosone

Mr Ghani favours something short, while Mr Abdullah wants the debate to be "three to four hours".

BBC

But then many Asian foods tend to favour taste over appearance.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The Lib Dem leader is thought to favour this over a deal with Labour.

The Guardian

And New Jersey, home to "The Sopranos", tends to favour grit over guff.

The Economist

In France, however, insolvency procedures are more fluid and tend to favour shareholders over banks.

The Economist

Even nonverbal teacher behaviours, such as smiles, have been shown to favour boys over girls.

Huffington Post

Heightened aggression towards dissimilar others produces a tendency to favour war over peace.

Huffington Post

This takes a boldness, and willingness to favour quality over the voices of the reactionary.

Vice

Therefore, we would expect the differential sample sizes to favour HEEBO over 3SEQ.

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "to favour something over", ensure the context clearly indicates a comparison between two distinct options. This enhances clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid embedding "to favour something over" in overly complex sentence structures. Simpler phrasing often improves readability and comprehension.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to favour something over" functions as a verb phrase expressing preference or choice. It indicates that one option is considered more desirable or advantageous than another. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase conveys a clear preference.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

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News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

Encyclopedias

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Wiki

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "to favour something over" is a grammatically correct and understandable way to express a preference or choice between two options. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. While not exceedingly common, its usage is appropriate in a variety of contexts, especially when a considered selection is being conveyed. Be aware of spelling variations (“favor” vs “favour”) depending on the target audience. Consider alternatives like "to prefer something to" for stylistic variation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to prefer something to

Direct synonym using 'prefer' instead of 'favour'.

to opt for something over

Uses 'opt' to mean select or choose.

to favour X more than Y

Changes structure to emphasize degree of favour.

to choose something rather than

Uses 'choose' to indicate selection instead of preference.

to have a preference for something over

Adds emphasis by explicitly stating a preference.

to lean towards something instead of

Suggests inclination rather than explicit preference.

to prioritize something over

Highlights the act of giving higher priority.

to select something above

Indicates a higher ranking or prioritization.

to be partial to something over

Suggests a bias or inclination.

to esteem something more highly than

Expresses a higher level of regard or value.

FAQs

What does "to favour something over" mean?

It means to prefer one thing more than another, or to choose one option instead of another because you see it as better or more advantageous. You could also "prefer something to" something else.

How can I use "to favour something over" in a sentence?

Use it to compare choices. Example: "The company decided to favour cost-effectiveness over long-term sustainability.".

Are there any synonyms for "to favour something over"?

Yes, you can use phrases like "to prefer something to", "to opt for something over", or "to choose something rather than".

Is it "favor" or "favour"?

"Favour" is the British English spelling, while "favor" is the American English spelling. Both are correct, but consistency within your writing is key.