widely favored

USAGE SUMMARY

"widely favored" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it in any written work when you want to describe something that is liked by many people. For example, "The new policy was widely favored by the town's citizens."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

40 human-written examples

Mr. Déby is widely favored to win.

The New York Times

Democratic Sen. Mazie Hirono, meanwhile, was unopposed". All are widely favored to win November's election.

The Washington Post

Because the Britons were widely favored at this point, men were flipping everywhere.

The Washington Post

Clinton is still widely favored, but this race could go either way, which means, to Trump's mind, that it's over.

The New Yorker

He has since been well-financed and widely favored over his Democratic opponent, Roy Herron, a state senator.

The New York Times

The Thunder (11-2) showhy why they are widely favored to win the Western Conference, dominating from start to finish.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

20 human-written examples

The boy read widely and favored works by Walt Whitman and Jack London.

The New York Times

"While the chairman is under siege, it would be wrong to criticize him, that would only serve Israel and America," said Mr. Dahlan, who has been widely seen as favored by the C.I.A., with which he cooperated in the early stages of trying to carry out the now moribund Oslo peace accords.

The New York Times

The cultivar Koshihikari developed in 1953 is the most widely grown and favored cultivar in Japan occupying almost 80%% of total rice production including its relative cultivars.

Rice

The most widely used, and generally favored, method was attending previously scheduled meetings of existing groups.

Duke University

The settlement he helped negotiate was widely believed to favor the coal companies.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "widely favored" when you want to indicate that a particular option, idea, or candidate is preferred by a large number of people or organizations. It suggests broad agreement or support.

Common error

Avoid using "widely favored" when the support is only moderate or limited to a specific group. Overstating the level of favor can undermine your credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "widely favored" functions as an adjective phrase, modifying a noun to indicate that it is generally liked or preferred by many. It's used to convey a sense of broad support or popularity, as confirmed by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

59%

Science

22%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "widely favored" functions as an adjective phrase indicating broad support or preference, as indicated by Ludwig. It's considered grammatically correct and commonly used in various contexts, especially in news and media, according to the analysis. While it conveys a sense of widespread approval, it's important to use it accurately, avoiding overstatements. Alternatives like "generally preferred" or "largely supported" can be used depending on the context. Overall, "widely favored" is a useful phrase for describing something that is generally liked or preferred by many, as confirmed by Ludwig.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

generally preferred

Emphasizes preference in a general sense, rather than explicit favor.

largely supported

Focuses on support, suggesting active endorsement by a large group.

broadly endorsed

Similar to 'supported' but implies a more formal approval.

commonly liked

Indicates popularity and positive sentiment among many people.

universally accepted

Suggests almost complete agreement, a stronger level of approval.

heavily backed

Implies significant resources or influence are behind the favored entity.

widely advocated

Highlights active promotion and encouragement of the favored thing.

most popular

Focuses on popularity as the key characteristic.

in vogue

Implies current fashion or trendiness.

all the rage

Suggests a very intense but potentially short-lived popularity.

FAQs

How can I use "widely favored" in a sentence?

You can use "widely favored" to describe anything from political candidates to policy changes. For example, "The incumbent candidate is "heavily favored" to win the election".

What can I say instead of "widely favored"?

You can use alternatives like "generally preferred", "largely supported", or "broadly endorsed" depending on the specific context.

Is "widely favored" the same as "universally accepted"?

"Widely favored" implies broad support, while "universally accepted" suggests almost complete agreement. The former is less absolute than the latter.

When is it inappropriate to use the phrase "widely favored"?

It is inappropriate to use "widely favored" when the support for something is minimal or restricted to a small group. It is better to use a phrase that accurately reflects the level and scope of support.