preference
C1Formal
Definition
Meaning
A greater liking for one alternative over another.
The act of giving one person or thing advantage or priority over others; a legal right to priority in payment or consideration.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Implies a conscious choice or established liking, often based on comparison. Can refer to a habitual tendency or a single instance of choosing.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling is identical. In legal and some formal contexts, 'preference' (US) can refer to a payment made by a bankrupt debtor favouring one creditor over others, a concept also known in UK law but often under specific insolvency terms.
Connotations
Generally identical. Slightly more frequent in formal American business contexts (e.g., 'customer preference').
Frequency
Very high frequency in both varieties, with near-identical usage patterns.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
preference for [something]preference of [someone] for [something]in preference to [something]by preferenceVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “by preference”
- “in preference to”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Analysis of consumer preference is vital for product development.
Academic
The study revealed a statistically significant preference for the first option among participants.
Everyday
I have a strong preference for tea over coffee in the morning.
Technical
The algorithm uses a user preference matrix to personalise recommendations.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Which do you prefer?
- I'd prefer it if you didn't smoke.
American English
- Which do you prefer?
- We prefer to leave early.
adverb
British English
- She chose the train, preferably an early one.
- Call me later, preferably after six.
American English
- I'd like a window seat, preferably on the left.
- Use fresh herbs, preferably basil.
adjective
British English
- What's your preferred method of payment?
- This is the preferred option.
American English
- Send it to my preferred address.
- He's the preferred candidate.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My preference is milk, not juice.
- What is your preference?
- I have a strong preference for action films.
- The hotel caters to dietary preferences.
- In preference to flying, we decided to take the train.
- She was given preference because of her experience.
- The court must consider the child's preferences in custody cases.
- The policy gives undue preference to commercial interests over environmental concerns.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
PRE-FERR-ENCE: Think of 'FERR' like 'FERVideo'. You 'FERR' (carry) your liking FOR one option BEFORE (PRE) others.
Conceptual Metaphor
PREFERENCE IS A PATH (e.g., 'a leaning towards', 'go down that route'), PREFERENCE IS A POSSESSION (e.g., 'have a preference', 'my preference').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid directly translating 'предпочтение' as '*preferention*' – the correct noun is 'preference'.
- Remember: 'preference' is a noun; the verb is 'to prefer'.
- Do not confuse with 'приоритет' (priority) – 'preference' is about liking, 'priority' is about importance/order.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: 'My preference is *to drink* tea.' (Correct: 'My preference is *for* tea' or 'I prefer to drink tea.')
- Incorrect: 'I have a preference *of* chocolate.' (Correct: 'I have a preference *for* chocolate.')
- Overuse in informal contexts where 'like better' is more natural.
Practice
Quiz
Which preposition most commonly follows the noun 'preference'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is usually countable (e.g., 'my preferences', 'a preference'). It can be uncountable when referring to the general concept (e.g., 'personal preference is important').
'Choice' is the act of selecting or the option selected. 'Preference' is the feeling of liking one option more, which guides a choice. You can have a preference without making a choice.
Yes, it can imply unfair bias, especially in formal contexts (e.g., 'showing preference to one child', 'illegal preference in trade agreements').
The verb is 'to prefer'. The structure is 'prefer X to Y' or 'prefer doing X to doing Y'. For future or hypotheticals, 'would prefer' is used.
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