I stayed away from

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I stayed away from" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that you deliberately avoided a person, place, or thing. Example: "I stayed away from the crowded areas to maintain social distancing during the pandemic."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I stayed away from him.

The New York Times - Sports

I stayed away from my family.

The Guardian

"I stayed away from the low numbers," he said.

Independent

"I stayed away from the ghetto too long," he said.

The New Yorker

This time I stayed away from the phone.

The New York Times

I stayed away from the world, pretty much.

The New York Times - Sports

"I stayed away from the rare and the supervaluable," he said in an e-mail message.

The New York Times

"I stayed away from the United States for 17 years on legal advice," he says.

The Economist

But I stayed away from them because they didn't have any idea what the challenge was.

The New York Times - Science

Still, Theroux tells us, "I stayed away from the big cities and the coastal communities.

The New Yorker

"The secret to my success is that I stayed away from what I didn't know".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "I stayed away from" when you want to emphasize a deliberate decision to avoid a person, place, or activity, especially when there might have been a temptation or reason to approach it.

Common error

Avoid using "stayed away from" when describing situations where avoidance happened unintentionally or due to external factors. This phrase implies conscious effort, so ensure it aligns with your intended meaning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I stayed away from" functions as a verb phrase indicating a deliberate act of avoidance. It expresses a conscious decision to maintain distance from a specific person, place, thing, or situation. Ludwig provides numerous examples to illustrate its usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Science

1%

Wiki

1%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "I stayed away from" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to indicate a deliberate act of avoidance. Ludwig AI confirms its usability across various contexts. Predominantly found in news and media sources, this phrase conveys a conscious decision to maintain distance, often to prevent negative consequences. While neutral in tone, context dictates formality. Alternatives include "I avoided" and "I kept my distance from". Use it to emphasize a deliberate decision to avoid something, but avoid it in passive contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I avoided

This alternative offers a simpler and more direct way to express avoidance.

I kept my distance from

This phrase emphasizes maintaining a physical or emotional separation.

I steered clear of

This idiom suggests deliberately avoiding something potentially problematic.

I refrained from

This indicates a conscious decision to abstain or avoid doing something.

I evaded

This implies skillfully avoiding something, often with a sense of difficulty.

I gave a wide berth to

This idiom suggests keeping a safe distance from something or someone.

I bypassed

This means to go around or avoid something, often a physical obstacle.

I shunned

This implies deliberately avoiding someone or something, often due to disapproval.

I skirted

This suggests avoiding the central point or main issue of something.

I held myself back from

This alternative emphasizes the self-control used to avoid something.

FAQs

What does "I stayed away from" mean?

The phrase "I stayed away from" means that you deliberately avoided something or someone. It implies a conscious decision to keep your distance, often to prevent a negative outcome or to avoid discomfort.

What can I say instead of "I stayed away from"?

You can use alternatives like "I avoided", "I kept my distance from", or "I steered clear of" depending on the context.

Is "I stayed away from" formal or informal?

The phrase "I stayed away from" is generally considered neutral in tone. It can be used in both formal and informal contexts, though more formal alternatives might be preferred in certain professional or academic settings.

How to use "I stayed away from" in a sentence?

You can use "I stayed away from" followed by the person, place, thing, or activity you avoided. For example, "I stayed away from the crowded areas" or "I stayed away from the argument".