avoid damage

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "avoid damage" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where you want to express the need to prevent harm or injury to something. Example: "To ensure the longevity of the equipment, it is essential to take precautions to avoid damage during transport."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

At such point they would have disconnected to avoid damage.

The Guardian

He also wants to avoid damage to his shareholders.

The New York Times

Application during dormany is preferred to avoid damage to surrounding plants.

Columbia University

New York Power outages: 1.13m due to flood damage and deliberate blackouts to avoid damage.

The Guardian

But they said they would step down to avoid damage to the institution.

The New York Times

For now, the club is continuing to irrigate as usual, to avoid damage to turf.

The New York Times

A gentle cell lysis protocol was used to avoid damage to the expressed polyproteins48.

Nature

New York and other states declared emergencies; the Navy ordered ships to sea to avoid damage.

The New York Times

May I claim a belief in God to avoid damage to my credibility and business?

The New York Times - Magazine

Additionally, the mild reaction conditions used have the potential to avoid damage to proteins during synthesis.

Duke University

Books are handled with special care during microfilming to avoid damage.

University of Chicago

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use specific direct objects after the preposition 'to' when using this phrase to provide maximum clarity. For example, in technical manuals, instead of saying 'avoid damage', say 'avoid damage to the internal circuitry'.

Common error

Writers sometimes use 'avoid damage' when they actually mean 'avoid damaging'. Use the noun form 'damage' when referring to the potential state of the object, and use the gerund 'damaging' when focusing on the action being performed. For example: 'Take care to avoid damage' vs. 'Take care to avoid damaging the wall'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "avoid damage" functions as a verb phrase composed of the transitive verb 'avoid' and its direct object, the uncountable noun 'damage'. In many Ludwig AI examples, it is frequently preceded by the infinitive 'to' to indicate purpose or intention.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

45%

News & Media

25%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "avoid damage" is a highly versatile and correct English expression used to signify the prevention of harm or destruction. According to Ludwig AI data, it appears most frequently in Scientific and Technical contexts where precise instructions are required to protect delicate samples, equipment, or biological structures. It is characterized by its high source authority, frequently appearing in publications like Nature and The New York Times. While often interchangeable with "prevent harm", it remains the preferred choice when the focus is on physical or functional integrity. Writers should be mindful of the distinction between the noun form 'damage' and the gerund 'damaging' to ensure grammatical precision in more complex sentences.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

prevent harm

Interchangeable in most contexts but often implies a more sentient or biological subject

safeguard against injury

Emphasizes the protective measures taken rather than just the result

avert destruction

Suggests a much higher scale of severity or total loss

minimize impairment

Focuses on reducing the loss of function rather than the physical breakage

evade injury

Typically reserved for living organisms or highly specialized anatomical contexts

preclude loss

Used more frequently in financial or resource-based environments

obviate degradation

Highly formal and scientific, focusing on the reduction of quality

bypass deterioration

Specific to processes involving gradual wear and tear over time

forestall ruin

A more formal and literary way to describe stopping a catastrophic failure

circumvent havoc

Implies avoiding chaotic or widespread systemic damage

FAQs

How do I use "avoid damage" in a sentence?

You can use it as a standard verb-noun combination to express a goal or instruction. For example: "Properly pack the computer to "avoid damage" during transit."

What can I say instead of "avoid damage"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "prevent harm", "minimize risk", or "avert destruction".

Is it "avoid damage" or "avoid damaging"?

Both are correct but serve different grammatical roles. Use ""avoid damage"" when 'damage' is the noun (the result), and "avoid damaging" when using the gerund form of the verb (the action).

What is the difference between "avoid damage" and "prevent damage"?

While often interchangeable, "prevent damage" often implies a proactive barrier or system in place, whereas ""avoid damage"" is frequently used as an instruction for careful handling.