what is your preference

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of the sentence "What is your preference?" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it when you want to ask someone for their opinion or preference on something, such as "What is your preference for dinner tonight?".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Table 2 What is your preference of headache information?

The Journal of Headache and Pain

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

What are your preferences regarding referral, looking back?

BMC Family Practice

What are your preferences on hours worked, management of employees, physical labor, and interaction with customers?

WikiHow

"What is your sexual preference, anyway, Glen?" Finebaum asked.

The New Yorker

"It was, 'What is your sexual preference?' " Fernandez said.

The New York Times

GSS interviewers ask, in person, "What is your religious preference?

University of California, Berkeley

The better questions are: "What's your pronoun preference?" or "I see you changed your name; how's everything going now?" Either should be a soft enough lob to encourage your friend to explain the name change and to get at the heart of the matter.

The New York Times

What are your reading preferences?

The New York Times

What are your geographic preferences for this summer and for the long term?

Cornell University

What are your medical preferences and desires?

HuffPost

Focus group questions and probes included: "What are your top preferences for places to work after graduation?" "How likely are you to consider working in a deprived area?" "What are the main barriers for accepting a posting to a deprived area?" "What are the main motivators for accepting a position to a deprived area?

Human Resources for Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When asking "what is your preference", be specific about the context to get a clear and relevant response. For example, instead of just asking "what is your preference?", ask "what is your preference for the meeting time?"

Common error

Avoid using "what is your preference" without specifying what you are asking about. Vague questions can lead to ambiguous or unhelpful answers. Always provide context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "what is your preference" functions as an interrogative phrase used to elicit someone's preferred option or choice. As Ludwig indicates, this is a grammatically correct phrase for seeking opinions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

25%

Academia

25%

Wiki

25%

Less common in

Science

25%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "what is your preference" is a versatile and grammatically sound question used to ascertain someone's preferred choice or inclination. As Ludwig confirms, it's a correct and widely used phrase. It functions primarily to gather information for decision-making or understanding individual tastes, and it maintains a neutral register suitable for various contexts, from professional settings to casual conversations. While adaptable, specifying the context of the preference enhances clarity. Related phrases like "what do you prefer" or "what's your favorite" offer alternative ways to phrase the question, each with subtle differences in emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

what do you prefer

Changes the structure to a more direct question about preference.

what would you rather

Poses a choice between alternatives.

what's your favorite

Asks for a favorite choice, implying a stronger level of preference.

what are your favored options

Emphasizes the available choices and asks which are favored.

what are your likes

Focuses on general likes rather than a specific preference.

what are your inclinations

Uses a more formal term for preference.

what appeals to you most

Shifts the focus to what attracts the person.

what do you lean towards

Suggests a tendency or inclination.

what is your desired outcome

Focuses on the preferred result rather than the choice itself.

what is your priority

Highlights what is most important to the person.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "what is your preference"?

You can use alternatives such as "what do you prefer", "what is your favorite", or "what would you rather" depending on the context.

Is it always necessary to specify the context when asking "what is your preference"?

While not always grammatically required, specifying the context makes the question clearer and helps the respondent provide a more relevant answer. For example, "What is your preference for the design?" is more specific than simply "What is your preference?"

What's the difference between "what is your preference" and "what are your preferences"?

"What is your preference" usually refers to a singular choice or inclination in a specific situation. "What are your preferences" refers to general inclinations or tastes across multiple situations.

When is it appropriate to use "what is your preference" in formal writing?

The phrase "what is your preference" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. However, in highly formal settings, you might consider using alternatives like "what is your desired outcome" or "what are your favored options" for a more sophisticated tone.