avoid circumstances

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "avoid circumstances" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing the need to steer clear of specific situations or conditions that may lead to negative outcomes. Example: "To ensure a successful project, we must avoid circumstances that could lead to delays or misunderstandings."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

Therefore, women may have evolved psychological mechanisms that motivate them to avoid circumstances linked with rape.

Personality and Individual Differences

Encourage good 'detailing', construction practices and maintenance regimes, which will avoid circumstances that would lead to biological degradation.

The Guardian

"Small inventors caused that to be put in the law to avoid circumstances that they might get into formal procedures that would delay issuance of a patent," Mr. Dickinson recalled.

The New York Times

"Though facts are unclear at this point, we take very seriously our responsibility to protect the people of Afghanistan and to avoid circumstances where noncombatant civilians are placed at risk," the command said.

The New York Times

The rules in effect tell reporters to avoid circumstances that we know from experience create a substantial risk that professional judgment may be unduly influenced by improper considerations like financial gain.

The New York Times

Corporate responsibility demands that the board work to actively avoid circumstances when too much power is accumulated in an executive office that is occupied by too powerful a personality.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

That includes identifying false assumptions ("I just have no self-control") and avoiding circumstances that set off compulsive behavior (hanging out with the guys).

The New York Times

If we understand these facts about ourselves, we can more effectively pursue and realize normative goals such as non-violence or fairness by avoiding circumstances that lead to cruelty, or by watching for and correcting distorting influences on our judgment (Glover 2000; Appiah 2008, 49, 71 72, 110 11, 124).

SEP

Thus, efforts must be made to articulate the aims of public engagement in a manner that avoids circumstances in which participants "are not clear themselves, on which perspective to adopt in any given health care decision-making context" (Charles and DeMaio 1993, 893).

American Journal of Bioethics

It is therefore imperative to monitor the equipment health condition and evaluate its reliability to avoid catastrophic circumstances.

Journal of Modern Power Systems and Clean Energy

The airlines are exempt from having to pay out in certain circumstances – such as strikes and bad weather – but have fought a number of failed test cases to avoid other circumstances, particularly technical problems.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "avoid circumstances", ensure the context clearly defines what specific circumstances are being avoided to provide clarity and prevent ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "avoid circumstances" without specifying the type of circumstances. For example, instead of saying "we need to avoid circumstances", specify "we need to avoid circumstances that could lead to delays".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "avoid circumstances" primarily functions as a verb phrase, where "avoid" is the main verb and "circumstances" is the direct object. Ludwig AI confirms its usability and grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

43%

Wiki

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "avoid circumstances" is a grammatically sound and versatile expression used to convey the importance of preventing or steering clear of specific situations. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase is correct and usable in written English. It is most frequently found in News & Media and Science contexts, indicating its neutrality. While relatively uncommon, understanding its function and purpose, along with considering alternative phrases, will ensure clarity and precision in writing. Remember to specify the types of circumstances being avoided to enhance clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

prevent situations

Focuses on stopping situations before they occur, emphasizing proactive prevention.

steer clear of conditions

Suggests carefully navigating away from potentially problematic conditions.

evade situations

Implies actively escaping or dodging undesirable situations.

escape conditions

Focuses on getting out of already existing and undesirable conditions.

sidestep incidents

Emphasizes avoiding specific events or occurrences.

avert occurrences

Highlights preventing events from happening, often with a sense of urgency.

forestall events

Suggests taking action to prevent events from happening in the future.

circumvent problems

Implies finding a way around or avoiding problems strategically.

dodge difficulties

Focuses on skillfully avoiding challenges or hardships.

bypass predicaments

Suggests finding a way to go around or avoid difficult or dangerous situations.

FAQs

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

You can use "avoid circumstances" to express the need to prevent specific situations. For example, "To ensure a successful project, we must "avoid circumstances" that could lead to delays or misunderstandings."

What are some alternatives to "avoid circumstances"?

Alternatives to "avoid circumstances" include phrases like "prevent situations", "steer clear of conditions", or "evade situations", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to use "avoid situations" or "avoid circumstances"?

Both "avoid situations" and ""avoid circumstances"" are correct. "Situations" generally refers to specific events or occurrences, while "circumstances" can refer to the broader conditions or factors surrounding an event. The best choice depends on the specific context.

What's the difference between "avoid" and "prevent" in the context of "circumstances"?

"Avoid" implies steering clear of something that already exists or is likely to occur, while "prevent" means stopping something from happening altogether. Using "avoid circumstances" suggests managing or evading existing conditions, whereas "prevent circumstances" suggests taking action to ensure those conditions never arise. For example, ""avoid circumstances" that cause distractions" vs "prevent circumstances that would cause distractions".