avoid allowing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "avoid allowing" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the importance of preventing or not permitting something to happen. Example: "To maintain a healthy work environment, we must avoid allowing negativity to spread among team members."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

And they wanted Grosseto to avoid allowing any goals in the first 15 minutes of the match.

The New York Times - Sports

Dvorak, now a consulting neurologist at Zurich's Schulthess Clinic, said FIFA needed to act quickly to avoid allowing the Russian team to play under a cloud of suspicion.

The New York Times - Sports

It's safe to assume Republicans want to avoid allowing in the protesters that frequently interrupted Kavanaugh's confirmation hearing earlier this month.

The Washington Post

The goal is to make the most recent year count most heavily but to avoid allowing any single data point to dominate.

The New York Times

Wenger will hope to secure three points today to avoid allowing Hiddink to cast a Mourinho-like spell over his Arsenal side  .

Independent

The Scarlet Knights (14-9, 6-5) needed a layup by Aquisha Cahoe with 27 seconds left in the half to avoid allowing the Huskies to set a team record; UConn held St.

The New York Times - Sports

Three weeks ago, Republican leaders in the House cut off a vote on making permanent partial relief from the so-called marriage penalty to avoid allowing Democrats to bring up an amendment closing the Bermuda deals.

The New York Times

But Congress and the administration must avoid allowing these expenditures to become excuses for cutbacks in other vital programs for children, health care and the environment, as some in Washington have suggested.

The New York Times

Denton had told the New York Times on Tuesday that he had a "personal hunch" someone in Silicon Valley was backing the lawsuit, which has been carefully orchestrated to avoid allowing Gawker's insurance to pay for damages.

The Guardian

But, with several cabinet ministers and other junior ministers minded to back the out campaign, Cameron may find the prospect of mass resignations makes it impossible for him to avoid allowing a free vote.

The Guardian

And yet, just as a lawyer knows to keep certain defendants off the stand, there are reasons for novelists to avoid allowing certain protagonists to testify on their own behalf.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "avoid allowing", ensure the context clarifies what negative consequence you are trying to prevent. Providing specific details strengthens the statement.

Common error

Be mindful of sentence length when using "avoid allowing". Overly complex sentences can become confusing. Simplify the structure for clarity by splitting the sentence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "avoid allowing" functions as a verb phrase. It combines the verb "avoid", which expresses the action of keeping away from or preventing something, with the gerund "allowing", which acts as the object of the verb. As seen in Ludwig examples, it describes preventing something undesirable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Wiki

36%

Science

16%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "avoid allowing" is a versatile construction used to express the need to prevent something from being permitted or happening. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is grammatically sound and frequently appears in diverse contexts, especially in news, media, and wiki sources. When writing with "avoid allowing", clarity is key; specifically defining what you are trying to prevent ensures effective communication. Be mindful of sentence structure to maintain readability. Alternatives like "prevent from permitting" and "refrain from permitting" offer similar meanings with subtle differences in emphasis and formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

refrain from permitting

Suggests a deliberate act of holding back from allowing something.

prevent from permitting

Emphasizes active prevention rather than passive avoidance.

abstain from allowing

Implies a more formal or moral decision to not allow something.

forbear to allow

An older, more formal way of saying 'avoid allowing'.

block from happening

Focuses on stopping the event itself rather than the permission.

deter from permission

Emphasizes discouraging the allowance of something.

preclude from occurring

Highlights the act of making something impossible.

ward off permitting

Suggests actively defending against allowing something.

evade the allowance

Highlights the act of cleverly avoiding the allowance of something.

sidestep enabling

Suggests avoiding the circumstances that might lead to something being allowed.

FAQs

How can I use "avoid allowing" in a sentence?

Use "avoid allowing" to express the need to prevent something from being permitted or happening. For example, "We must "avoid allowing" negativity to affect our team's performance."

What are some alternatives to "avoid allowing"?

You can use alternatives like "prevent from permitting", "refrain from permitting", or "abstain from allowing" depending on the level of formality required.

Is "avoid allowing" grammatically correct?

Yes, "avoid allowing" is grammatically correct. It follows the standard pattern of using a gerund (allowing) after the verb "avoid".

What's the difference between "avoid allowing" and "prevent permitting"?

"Avoid allowing" suggests a general effort to not let something happen, while "prevent permitting" implies a more direct and forceful action to stop something from being permitted.