avoid disturbing

USAGE SUMMARY

"avoid disturbing" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to advise someone to take measures to prevent a disruption or disruption to a particular situation. For example: "To ensure the project's success, we suggest that all employees avoid disturbing the established workflow."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The balls and music are powered by electric motors or a clockwork spring: they only play during the day, to avoid disturbing the owner's sleep.

The New York Times

Your seaside stroll is interrupted by a diversion inland to avoid disturbing the occupants of Villa The Rock, the grandest property along the shore.

Independent

To avoid disturbing his wife's sleep, he sang in a whisper, thus adding to the eerie atmosphere already created by lyrics heavy with Southern gothic imagery.

Independent

Visitors to the garden are asked to switch off their cellphones, for security reasons and to avoid disturbing the harmony of nature.

The New York Times

Entering Thornton Wood you have to watch your feet, treading cautiously through crisp leaves to avoid disturbing the bumblebees burrowing into the soft soil of the bank.

The Guardian

We quietly unhook the ladder that will lead us to it (we must avoid disturbing the people in the flats on this floor) and climb up.

The Guardian

In the considered scenario, the SUs need to adapt their decoding strategies to avoid disturbing the PU.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

When possible, sediments were collected with a large volume of overlying water to avoid disturbing the SWI.

Geochemical Transactions

Moreover, hatchery managers avoid disturbing the broodfish with manual handling (i.e., stripping) in spawning tanks in order to reduce the stress levels.

International Aquatic Research

For economical and security reasons, the petroleum and gas industry requires nonintrusive or nondestructive measurement techniques to avoid disturbing their properties and performance [5].

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

In order to avoid disturbing the sensitive induction coil, the data logger is placed away from the triaxial induction coil sensor.

Earth, Planets and Space

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When instructing someone to take precautions, use "avoid disturbing" to clearly communicate the need to prevent disruption or unwanted effects. For instance, "To preserve the experiment's integrity, avoid disturbing the sample during the analysis."

Common error

While "avoid disturbing" is versatile, it can sound too informal in highly professional documents. Opt for more formal alternatives like "prevent disruption" or "minimize interference" to maintain a sophisticated tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "avoid disturbing" primarily functions as an infinitive phrase expressing purpose or instruction. It advises against actions that might cause disruption or unwanted interference, as demonstrated in Ludwig's examples across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

30%

News & Media

27%

Wiki

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "avoid disturbing" is a versatile and grammatically sound construction used to advise against actions that may cause disruption or unwanted effects. Ludwig highlights its common usage across diverse contexts such as news, science, and general instructions. While generally neutral in tone, as Ludwig AI suggests, more formal alternatives like "prevent disruption" or "minimize interference" may be more appropriate in professional settings. Its frequent occurrence and clear meaning make it a reliable choice for expressing the need to minimize impact or intrusion.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

prevent disruption

Focuses on preventing a disruption, often implying a more significant disturbance than simply avoiding it.

minimize interference

Emphasizes reducing the level of interference, suggesting a more technical or precise context.

refrain from interrupting

Specifically addresses interrupting, often used in social or conversational contexts.

steer clear of disrupting

Suggests actively avoiding a course of action that would lead to disruption.

keep from bothering

Focuses on not causing annoyance or inconvenience, suitable for interpersonal situations.

not interfere with

Broader than "avoid disturbing", covering a wider range of interactions and impacts.

hold back from interrupting

Highlights the act of restraining oneself from interrupting, suitable for polite interactions.

leave undisturbed

Emphasizes the state of being undisturbed, implying a desire to maintain the current condition.

shun disruption

Emphasizes avoiding disruption.

prevent agitation

Specifically aims to prevent someone or something from becoming agitated or stressed.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "avoid disturbing" to sound more formal?

In formal contexts, you can replace "avoid disturbing" with phrases like "prevent disruption", "minimize interference", or "refrain from interrupting", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

What's a simpler way to say "avoid disturbing"?

For simpler alternatives, consider "don't bother" or "leave alone", though these may not be suitable for all contexts.

Is there a difference between "avoid disturbing" and "prevent disturbing"?

While similar, "avoid disturbing" suggests taking measures to not cause a disturbance, while "prevent disturbing" implies a more proactive effort to stop something from causing a disturbance.

How to use "avoid disturbing" in a sentence?

You can use "avoid disturbing" in sentences where you're giving instructions or advice on how to prevent something from being disrupted. For example, "To ensure the experiment's success, avoid disturbing the sample during analysis."