[Grammar] Prefer

[beachboy]

Would it be wrong - or maybe sound strange - if I said "I prefer traveling by train to by bus"? Would "I prefer to travel by train rather than by bus" sound more natural?

My question is because of the "to" followed by the preposition "by".

 

[bhaisahab]

Yes and yes.

 

[GoesStation]

I'll add a third "yes". The first sentence is wrong and would sound strange. The second sentence is fine.

 

[AirbusA321]

Another option, I think, could be: "I favor train rides over bus rides."

 

[GoesStation]

Prefer​ is much more natural.

 

[Tdol]

I think you could remove rather.