[Vocabulary] meaning of 'preference against'

[jackson6612]

Hi,

Could you please let me know what the phrase 'preference against' mean? Thanks.

 

[jackson6612]

John had a preference against using Michael's statistical model of the problem.

 

[jutfrank]

John preferred not to use Michael's statistical model of the problem.

Where did you see this sentence?

 

[Tarheel]

I wouldn't use preference against.

 

[Rover_KE]

I can't remember ever having seen or heard preference against.

Please tell us where you saw it, Jackson.

 

[tedmc]

I have only seen preference for, never preference against.

 

[Tdol]

I searched the Corpus of Contemporary American English and it only had three examples, so it's not a phrase in regular use, Google NGrams graph shows the same.

 

[emsr2d2]

I've never seen/heard it either and it wouldn't be logical anyway. "prefer" means "to like something more than the alternative". Consequently, it can be used in both positive and negative senses, but not with "against".

I would prefer to go to the beach than [go] [to] the park.
I would prefer not to go to the park.

Between the beach and the park, I have a preference for the beach. :tick:
Between the beach and the park, I have a preference against the park. :cross:

 

[jackson6612]

John preferred not to use Michael's statistical model of the problem.

Where did you see this sentence?

I'm sorry for the late reply. I did see a similar sentence with phrase 'preference against' but cannot remember where. I just made up the example sentence above. Thanks

 

[jackson6612]

I can't remember ever having seen or heard preference against.

Please tell us where you saw it, Jackson.

Sorry for the late reply. The example was made up by me but I did read a similar sentence somewhere with the phrase 'preference against'. Thanks

 

[Tdol]

I'm sorry for the late reply. I did see a similar sentence with phrase 'preference against' but cannot remember where. I just made up the example sentence above. Thanks

You will see unusual usage, but that doesn't mean it should be copied. :up: