“In favour of in English” is a formal phrase meaning to support, agree with, or choose something over another option. This guide explains its exact meaning, grammar usage, and how to apply it correctly in daily conversation, business writing, and IELTS or TOEIC contexts.

I. What Does In Favour Of in English Mean?
1. 1. How to Use In Favour Of in English Correctly?
2. 2. Difference Between In Favour Of in English and Similar Phrases
II. Synonyms and Paraphrases for In Favour Of in English
III. Examples of In Favour Of in English in Real-life Contexts

What is In favour of? The detailed structure and usage of In favour of in English — In Favour Of in English: Meaning, Usage, Examples

I. What Does In Favour Of in English Mean?

The expression In Favour Of is a prepositional phrase that means supporting, preferring, or approving something, especially when making a choice between two or more options. It is often used to indicate a position, opinion, or decision that leans toward something, instead of its alternative.

Although it can occur in both spoken and written English, in favour of is most commonly used in formal, academic, or argumentative contexts where clearly expressing a preference or endorsement is required.

Note: The phrase is spelled “in favour of” in British English and “in favor of” in American English. Both have the same meaning and usage.

Core meanings of “in favour of”:

Supporting an idea, person, or decision
Preferring one option over another
Agreeing with or leaning towards one side of an argument

When is “In Favour Of” Used?

In formal writing: research papers, essays, presentations.
In decision-making or argumentative contexts: where choices or positions are compared.
In legal, policy, or administrative settings: such as votes, proposals, or debates.

This expression often appears in:

IELTS Writing Task 2 essays (e.g., discussing whether you agree or disagree with a position)
Meeting minutes or reports
News articles and academic publications

By understanding the structure and context in which in favour of is used, learners can express formal opinions, write more persuasively, and avoid common mistakes in academic or test settings.

To understand similar structures, check our guide on prepositions in English.

1. How to Use In Favour Of in English Correctly?

To use in favour of correctly, it’s important to understand how it functions grammatically, which types of words it can follow, and how it behaves across different tenses and sentence types. As a prepositional phrase, it is normally used to express support, preference, or a decision in formal or semi-formal contexts.

Common Sentence Structures

Structure Pattern	Example Sentence	Use
Subject + verb + in favour of + noun	They voted in favour of the new policy.	Expresses support or endorsement.
Passive voice with "rule/decide" + in favour of	The court ruled in favour of the defendant.	Used in legal or judgment contexts.
Verb + object + in favour of + option B	She chose the internship in favour of summer vacation.	Indicates preference/selection.

In favour of must be followed by a noun, noun phrase, or gerund (-ing form).

Incorrect: They were in favour of to expand the project.
Correct: They were in favour of expanding the project.

Typical Verb Collocations

Verb	Example
vote	The council voted in favour of the budget proposal.
rule	The judge ruled in favour of the plaintiff.
decide	We decided in favour of option A.
argue	Many scientists argue in favour of stricter regulation.
campaign	They are campaigning in favour of animal rights.

These verbs are commonly paired with in favour of in political, legal, academic, and social debate-related contexts.

Position in the Sentence

Position	Example Sentence
Sentence middle	The board voted in favour of the revised plan.
Sentence end	The decision was clearly in favour of the applicants.
After introductory clause	In terms of cost, we are leaning in favour of Option B.

Typically placed after the verb or auxiliary verb directly referring to a decision or preference.

Usage with Tenses

Tense	Example	Usage Context
Present Simple	She always argues in favour of gender equality.	General truth or repeated stance
Past Simple	They voted in favour of the changes last year.	Completed action/decision in the past
Present Perfect	The company has ruled in favour of open communication.	Present result of a past decision
Future (will)	They will likely decide in favour of keeping the policy.	Predicted preference/decision

Summary Tips:

Always follow in favour of with a noun, gerund, or noun phrase.
Avoid clumsy repetition or redundancy in writing (e.g. using both in favour of and supporting in the same phrase).
For IELTS and academic writing, pair with verbs like support, choose, argue using precise tone for formal register. Building awareness of common English collocations can make your writing more natural.

After the regular verb — How to Use In Favour Of in English Correctly?

2. Difference Between In Favour Of in English and Similar Phrases

Learners often confuse in favour of with similar expressions such as for, support, or agree with. While these phrases all suggest some level of approval or agreement, they differ in terms of formality, grammatical function, and clarity of intent.

To use them correctly, it's important to understand these subtle distinctions. The table below provides a direct comparison:

Expression	Meaning	Example Sentence	Formality	Usage Notes
in favour of	Formally supporting or preferring one option	The board voted in favour of the merger.	Formal / Academic	Followed by a noun, gerund, or noun phrase. Avoid in informal speech. Common in decisions, policy, legal or academic writing.
for	Generally supporting something; less specific	I’m all for stronger environmental laws.	Neutral to Informal	Very common in everyday English. Not precise enough for formal essays or business reports. Avoid overusing in academic writing.
support	Actively backing or helping something (verb form)	They support the new education reform.	Neutral to Formal	A verb, not a phrase. Cannot substitute "in favour of" directly. Used to describe general alignment or help.
agree with	Holding the same opinion as someone else	I agree with her position on climate policy.	Neutral	Focuses on shared opinion rather than decision-making. Can't replace “in favour of” when comparing or choosing between options.
in support of	Giving approval or reinforcement to someone/thing	They marched in support of the new housing plan.	Formal / Contextual	Often used in public or political discourse. Emphasizes active advocacy, often physical action or demonstration.

Use in favour of when you need to express well-reasoned preference or judgment — especially useful in academic essays, debate structures, or decision-making frameworks in professional settings. Use other expressions carefully, choosing based on tone, intent, and grammatical structure.

You can also check some English idioms about opinion and agreement for more natural phrasing.

Equivalent words/phrases to In favour of

II. Synonyms and Paraphrases for In Favour Of in English

Learning how to paraphrase and find appropriate synonyms for fixed expressions like in favour of is a highly valuable skill, especially in writing tasks that require lexical variety and appropriate tone. Below is a table of commonly used synonyms and reformulations, including notes on their appropriate context and usage.

Synonyms and Paraphrased Alternatives for “In Favour Of”

Expression	Meaning / Function	Example Sentence	Formality	Notes
supporting	Showing agreement or backing something	She is supporting the new proposal on climate action.	Neutral to formal	Verb-based; often used in continuous form
advocating	Publicly recommending or arguing for	They are advocating stricter regulations for chemical waste.	Formal	Often used in policy, law, or academic contexts
on the side of	Aligned with a person or position	He’s on the side of transparency and open data.	Informal	More conversational; useful in debates or simplified explanations
leaning towards	Shows soft or tentative support or preference	I’m leaning towards online learning for the flexibility it offers.	Semi-formal	Often used to show partial or growing agreement
prefer / preferring	Choosing one thing over another	The board is preferring digital solutions to printed forms.	Neutral	Useful for direct comparisons; verb form flexibility
in support of	Expressing encouragement or public approval	Thousands gathered in support of equal education.	Formal / public use	Emphasizes visible backing or advocacy
backing	Similar to support, slightly stronger	The union is backing a pay increase for all employees.	Neutral	Often used in negotiations, campaigning, or politics
favouring	Showing an active preference	Most voters are favouring Candidate B in recent polls.	Neutral to formal	Common in news, political analysis, social research contexts

Using Paraphrases in Academic or Exam Writing

Avoid Repetition: Overusing “in favour of” may weaken the variety and range of your lexical resource, one of the key IELTS Writing scoring criteria.
Synonym ≠ Exact Replacement: Not all alternatives are interchangeable in every context. Always consider tone, grammar (verb/phrase), and subject.
Combine with Vivid Verbs: Use paraphrases to shift sentence structure, e.g. instead of:
Many people are in favour of banning plastic bags.
You might write:
Many people support the ban on plastic bags.
or
There is growing public advocacy for eliminating plastic waste.

Expanding your ability to express the meaning of "in favour of" with diverse lexical choices will help you write more fluently, persuasively, and formally — especially in academic and professional settings.

III. Examples of In Favour Of in English in Real-life Contexts

The phrase in favour of is used in a wide range of real-world situations, especially in contexts that involve decisions, preferences, or arguments. Below are categorized examples that show how this expression functions in everyday communication, academic or professional writing, and language exams. Mastering its contextual usage is essential for learners who want to improve both speaking and writing fluency.

Everyday Conversation Examples

Example Sentence	Context / Explanation
I skipped the party in favour of staying home and reading.	Casual way to express personal preference
We’re leaning in favour of the Italian restaurant tonight.	Expressing choice in informal group decision-making
He ditched the meeting in favour of a nap.	Humorous or light use for personal priorities

Business and Academic Contexts

Example Sentence	Context / Explanation
The committee voted in favour of extending the project deadline.	Common phrasing in meeting decisions and formal reports
The university is shifting in favour of more online course options.	Describes a trend or change in institutional preference
The researchers argued in favour of using a larger dataset.	Academic writing where rationale or justification is given
Shareholders have expressed support in favour of the merger.	Business communication involving group decisions

In Favour Of in IELTS and TOEIC Contexts

Example Sentence	Use in Exam Preparation
Many people are in favour of stricter environmental regulations.	Suitable for IELTS Writing Task 2 (Opinion Essay)
Public opinion is shifting in favour of electric vehicles.	Can be used to support line of reasoning
The report clearly leans in favour of Option A over Option B.	Ideal for TOEIC Reading Part: Decision-making in meetings
I personally would argue in favour of banning animal testing.	Useful in IELTS Speaking Part 3 (Justifying opinions)

Usage Tip for Learners

When using in favour of, always follow with a noun, noun phrase, or gerund (e.g. reducing, switching, using). Avoid using it before full clauses.

Incorrect: They chose in favour of they should start early.
Correct: They chose in favour of starting early.

Being able to use in favour of naturally in speech, writing, and exams strengthens your ability to express support, justify choices, and build arguments – all of which are essential in academic and professional communication.

In this article, PREP has provided all the knowledge related to In favour of in English in terms of its meaning, structure, usage, as well as synonyms. If you have any questions, please leave a comment, and we will respond as soon as possible!