which was preferred

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "which was preferred" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a choice or option that was favored over others in a given context. Example: "The new design, which was preferred by the majority of the team, will be implemented in the next phase of the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

The launch control system is 25 years old, and at the time this used a 'person in the loop' control which was preferred compared to the complexities of a fault-tolerant computer system.

TechCrunch

However, we found no systematic difference in recruitment rates between AF and NAF plots, and for the 12 most abundant species no clear pattern emerged indicating a more successful offspring establishment in the plot category which was preferred by the adults.

Forest Ecosystems

Islet transplantation emerged as a promising approach to reach periodical reverse of diabetes, however, transplanted islets suffer from foreign body reaction and lack of nutrition and oxygen supply, especially in the blood-vessel-shortage subcutaneous site which was preferred by patient and surgeon.

Materials Science and Engineering: C

A recent poll of top UK universities indicated the IB middle years program is a good preparation for the diploma program, which was preferred by 80% of universities polled.

Huffington Post

The complex II inhibitor 3-nitropropionate (3NP, Figure 4C), which was preferred over tenoyltrifluoroacetone (TTFA) in intact cells owing to the aspecific effects of the latter (data not shown), and the complex IV inhibitor KCN (Figure 4E) were only effective in reducing the ATP levels of the PBMC at concentrations of >100 µM.

Plosone

Consider allowing patients to provide one-time, blanket informed consent, which was preferred by participants.

BMC Cancer

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

The four-borough option, which is preferred by telecommunications carriers, would mean that a separate solution would have to be found for Manhattan by 2014.

The New York Times

Spain pushed for Santander, a popular summer resort, because of the slow clay-court surface, which is preferred by Spanish players.

The New York Times - Sports

These effects can be measured physically to give an acutance value, which is preferred to resolving power as a criterion of a film's sharpness performance.

Encyclopedia Britannica

For wine, it is roughly the inverse, which is preferred by 52 percent of women and 20 percent of men, according to a 2012 Gallup poll.

The New York Times

It has an over-the-ear design, which is preferred by many people who don't like a Bluetooth earphone that goes in the ear canal.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "which was preferred", ensure the context clearly indicates who or what did the preferring. Specify the subject to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "which was preferred" without specifying the subject doing the preferring. For instance, instead of saying "the method which was preferred", specify "the method "which the researchers preferred"" for clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "which was preferred" typically functions as a relative clause, modifying a noun phrase by providing additional information about a choice or option that was favored. Ludwig confirms its proper usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

30%

Encyclopedias

2%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

3%

Social Media

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "which was preferred" functions as a relative clause, indicating a choice that was favored. Ludwig AI confirms it's grammatically correct and commonly used, especially in scientific and news contexts. When using this phrase, ensure the context is clear about who or what did the preferring to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives include "that was favored" or "which was selected". Remember to specify the subject to avoid vagueness. Overall, the phrase is appropriate for neutral to formal communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

that was favored

Uses a synonym for "preferred" to indicate a favorable choice.

which was favored

Synonymous with "which was preferred", using "favored" instead.

that was chosen

Emphasizes the act of selecting one option.

which was selected

Similar to "that was chosen" but retains the "which" relative pronoun.

that held preference

Rephrases the idea of preference in a more formal manner.

which was given priority

Highlights the prioritization of one option.

that adults preferred

Specifies that some group of adults favored the alternative.

that professionals chose

Specifies a professional preference for the alternative.

that was the better option

Explicitly states that the selected option was considered superior.

which garnered greater support

Focuses on the support and approval the option received.

FAQs

How can I use "which was preferred" in a sentence?

Use "which was preferred" to introduce a clause describing a choice that was favored. For example, "The design, "which was preferred" by the team, was implemented."

What are some alternatives to using "which was preferred"?

You can use phrases like "that was favored", "that was chosen", or "which was selected" depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is it always necessary to specify who did the preferring when using "which was preferred"?

While not always grammatically required, specifying who or what did the preferring adds clarity and avoids ambiguity, making the sentence more informative and easier to understand.

What's the difference between "which was preferred" and "that was preferred"?

"Which" introduces a non-restrictive clause, adding extra information, while "that" introduces a restrictive clause, essential to the sentence's meaning. Both are grammatically correct, but "which" is often set off by commas.