what we preferred

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "what we preferred" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing choices or options that were favored in a particular context. Example: "After reviewing all the options, we decided to go with what we preferred."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

By the way, no one asked us what we preferred for the official motto.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Let's believe what we prefer to believe.

The New Yorker

In many respects, it's what we prefer our athletes to be: unfussy, unflashy, and content to express themselves purely on the field of play.

The Guardian - Sport

The danger of doing something that's not worth anything, that results in nothing, that leaves Assad standing, it seems to me that it makes the United States look like that's what we prefer.

The New York Times

On this conception, what we prefer or approve of when we make a moral judgement is having a property in an essentially first personal way.

SEP

We strive towards getting what we prefer, and protect our self from what is seen as undesirable.

Huffington Post

What we prefer doing is standing on the sidelines, watching you lot having fun, and then going home and making pithy notes on the fun other people have.

Vice

A seemingly witty little analysis by Patrick Egan of NYU and Megan Mullin of Duke suggests that since climate change has made the weather more like what we prefer, we don't care as much about climate change as a threat.

Huffington Post

They will also have the wisdom, like their mother, to educate those who are fearful to ask the questions about race in order to claim the respect necessary to be called what we prefer based on any of our given identities.

Huffington Post

Other factors such as price, social context, etc., are also important, but within boundaries set by these factors, we eat what we prefer or like.

Chemical Reviews

Don't choose them by taking the ones you wear the more often, because we don't always wear what we prefer.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "what we preferred", ensure it clearly refers back to a previously mentioned set of options or choices for context.

Common error

Avoid using "what we preferred" without clear context. Readers should easily understand the options you are referring to.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "what we preferred" functions as a noun clause, acting as a subject complement or object in a sentence. It specifies a choice or option that was favored. The Ludwig AI confirms its usability in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Wiki

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "what we preferred" is a grammatically correct noun clause used to express a past choice or favored option. Ludwig AI indicates its usability across different registers, though it's relatively rare. While versatile, it's crucial to provide context for clarity. Related phrases, like "our preference" or "what we favored", can offer stylistic variations. Usage analysis reveals it appears in News & Media, Science, and Wiki content. Remember to clarify the reference to avoid vagueness and ensure readers understand the context of your choice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

what we favored

This substitutes "preferred" with a direct synonym, maintaining a similar structure.

our preference

This option replaces the clause with a noun phrase, making it more concise.

our favored option

This combines a noun and adjective to express the preference directly.

the option we liked best

This phrasing is more informal and emphasizes liking over a reasoned preference.

what was our first choice

This emphasizes the selection from a range of options.

what we were inclined to choose

This alternative highlights a leaning towards a specific option.

what appealed to us most

This highlights the attractiveness of a specific option.

our chosen course of action

This suggests a decision that leads to a particular action or plan.

our ideal selection

This implies that the choice was perfect or optimal.

the thing we wanted most

This focuses on desire rather than a deliberate choice.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "what we preferred" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "our preference", "our chosen course of action", or "the option we favored".

Is "what we preferred" interchangeable with "what we liked"?

While similar, "what we preferred" implies a more deliberate and reasoned choice, while "what we liked" suggests a simple enjoyment.

When is it appropriate to use "what we preferred" in writing?

Use "what we preferred" when you want to emphasize that a choice was made based on certain criteria or considerations, not just on personal taste.

What are some common synonyms for the word "preferred" in the context of "what we preferred"?

Synonyms include "favored", "chose", "selected", and "desired". For example, consider "what we favored" as an alternative.