avoid any controversy

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "avoid any controversy" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the intention to steer clear of disputes or disagreements in a particular context. Example: "In order to maintain a positive atmosphere, we should aim to avoid any controversy during the meeting."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

Education secretary Nicky Morgan will continue her near silence on policy to avoid any controversy.

The Guardian

The decision has been backed by London 2012 organisers, who were also keen to avoid any controversy.

The Guardian - Sport

It is as if the museum had decided this exhibition should turn away from almost everything celebrated in the rest of the memorial, perhaps to avoid any controversy.

The New York Times - Arts

The world No. 1, Rory McIlroy, may decline to compete at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro to avoid any controversy over what country to represent.

The New York Times - Sports

The president acknowledged this: "I know very well that the easy thing to do, particularly for a president preparing for re-lection, is to avoid any controversy.

The Guardian

On reconsideration, it seems more purposeful, as if specifically designed to avoid any controversy that might distract from the major point it was trying to make: namely, that work of gay artists was fundamental to the invention of American modernism.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

In order to avoid any controversies about political correctness, no representations of people adorn these pieces of paper.

Forbes

The problem was that it sounded like a speech too long in preparation and so nervously drafted that it avoided any controversy.

The Guardian - Opinion

"Peppa Pig is a well known fan of Sure Start children's centres but, in the interests of avoiding any controversy or misunderstanding, we have agreed she should not attend," said the Peppa Pig programme makers.

The Guardian

Stewart could have avoided any controversy by entering a stop-loss order for ImClone, which, on December 27th, first traded below sixty dollars at 11 07 A.M. (A stop-loss order allows brokerage customers to sell a stock automatically when it hits a predetermined price).

The New Yorker

Bush has kept a low profile so far, meeting with political, business and civil leaders, but avoiding any controversy.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming to maintain neutrality or prevent conflicts in sensitive discussions, use "avoid any controversy" to indicate a deliberate effort to steer clear of potentially divisive topics.

Common error

While "avoid any controversy" is useful, be mindful not to overuse it in contexts where directness and addressing issues head-on are necessary for resolution and progress. Overusing this phrase can signal a lack of transparency or unwillingness to tackle important problems.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "avoid any controversy" functions primarily as an infinitive phrase expressing intention or purpose. Ludwig AI validates this through numerous examples where the phrase is used to describe actions taken to prevent or sidestep conflict.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "avoid any controversy" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to indicate the intention to steer clear of disputes. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and demonstrates its frequent use across diverse contexts such as News & Media, Science and Formal & Business writing. While generally acceptable, it's important to consider the context and avoid overuse in situations that call for directness and transparency. Alternatives like "steer clear of controversy" or "prevent any disagreement" can offer subtle variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

steer clear of controversy

Replaces "avoid" with "steer clear of", emphasizing a deliberate effort to move away from potential conflict.

evade any dispute

Substitutes "controversy" with "dispute", focusing on avoiding arguments or disagreements.

prevent any disagreement

Focuses on proactive prevention of disagreements, rather than merely avoiding existing controversies.

sidestep any conflict

Uses "sidestep" to imply skillfully avoiding confrontation.

circumvent any issue

Suggests finding a way around a problematic issue to avoid a controversy.

eschew any quarrel

Uses the more formal "eschew" to indicate a deliberate avoidance of quarrels or disputes.

bypass any friction

Implies avoiding situations that might cause tension or disagreement.

defuse potential arguments

Shifts the focus to neutralizing arguments before they escalate into controversy.

remain non-committal

Suggests avoiding taking a firm position on a topic to evade conflict.

take a neutral stance

Implies not taking sides in order not to provoke a dispute.

FAQs

How can I use "avoid any controversy" in a sentence?

You can use "avoid any controversy" to express the intention to steer clear of disputes or disagreements. For example: "The politician chose to "avoid any controversy" by not commenting on the sensitive issue."

What can I say instead of "avoid any controversy"?

Alternatives include "steer clear of controversy", "evade any dispute", or "prevent any disagreement", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it always beneficial to "avoid any controversy"?

While avoiding controversy can maintain peace and harmony, it's not always the best approach. Sometimes, addressing difficult issues directly is necessary for progress and resolution. The key is to balance tact and directness.

What's the difference between "avoid any controversy" and "suppress dissent"?

"Avoid any controversy" implies a general effort to sidestep disputes, while "suppress dissent" suggests actively silencing opposing viewpoints. The former is often about managing public perception or maintaining harmony, while the latter is about controlling opinions.