The Prefer CONCEPT does not have a clear-cut definition and in most cases is call-dependent.

In general, the 'Preferred' dancers do the first part of the call, the given part of the call, or the most obvious or active part of the call. The caller will usually say 'Prefer the anyone: anything' or 'anyone is Preferred: anything.' The caller may also indicate which part of the given call the Preferred dancers are to do.

Examples are given below.

In Roll Circulate, Out Roll Circulate:

Preferred dancers are the In Roller or Out Roller.

Explode The Line, Explode And anything:

Preferred dancers Step Ahead; all 1/4 In; etc.

Checkpoint anything By anything:

Preferred dancers do the first anything call and end on the outside.

Checker Board | Box anything:

Preferred dancers do the Trade.

Stack The Line:

all 1/4 In; Preferred dancers go across.

Since the Prefer CONCEPT is inherently ambiguous, the caller should be specific as to who is to do what with whom. For instance, in the last two examples above, the caller could have said:

• Prefer the anyone to do the Trade: all Checker Board | Box anything
• Prefer the anyone as Leads: all Stack the Line

Another use of the Prefer CONCEPT is to designate which hand or which direction is to be used in case of a conflict. For example,

• From formations in which both Ends are facing In or Out. Ends Prefer the Right (or Left) hand: all Cast A Shadow, Detour, Strip (The Diamond), etc.
• From a Box. Prefer the Outsides to Cast to the Right (or Left): all Breaker anything.

before Prefer The Very Ends for an Out Roll Circulate   after

before Prefer The Beaus for an Explode The Line   after Beaus Step Ahead, all 1/4 In & adjust to Facing Couples   after Right Pull By (done)