avoid flouting

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "avoid flouting" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the importance of adhering to rules or norms and not disregarding them. Example: "To maintain a good reputation, it is essential to avoid flouting the established guidelines."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

With some retailers altering haggis recipes to avoid flouting the ban, would she consider setting up shop stateside?

The Guardian

To avoid flouting (Relevance) in this way (Entailment) had better be a principle that links truth-making to a more restrictive, non-classical notion of entailment (Mulligan, Simons, & Smith 1984: 316).

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

With Likud having decisively rejected Mr. Sharon's plan, Mr. Netanyahu and the other vacillating Likud ministers, Limor Livnat and Silvan Shalom, were seeking substantial enough changes in the initiative to avoid appearing to flout their faction's will.

The New York Times

Sean Penn has avoided being charged for flouting Canada's smoking ban while promoting All the King's Men at the Toronto film festival.

The Guardian - Film

The only safety valves, so-called "opening clauses" that allow companies to set aside the agreement under certain conditions, are being used increasingly in other industries to avoid the rules being openly flouted.

The Economist

He may turn out to be right on some of the outcomes, but the push to flout procurement rules and avoid accountability signifies a destruction of institutions.

Huffington Post

Ms. Sozzani is an established pioneer of the concept store, a fancy phrase for places that avoid the impersonality of department stores while flouting boutique exclusivity by stocking big names and no-names alongside chopsticks, candles and experimental upside-down frocks.

The New York Times

And that leads to some of the most difficult problems in exercise science: Why do some people become injured even though, like Birgit, they try to do everything right while others, like Jen, who flout every rule, avoid injury?

The New York Times - Health

It is also worth asking whether the tax law is being widely flouted by political groups determined to avoid disclosure of their donors — and whether successive administrations have failed to enforce the law.

The New York Times

And an economy with its own currency and a persistent current-account surplus can flout every last bit of conventional debt wisdom and still avoid crisis.

The Economist

In cases where a client routinely flouts budgets, business managers are forced to go on the record with their objections to avoid liability.

The New York Times - Style

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about regulatory compliance, use "avoid flouting" to emphasize the proactive effort to prevent disregard for established rules and standards. This implies not merely passive adherence, but active measures to ensure adherence.

Common error

A common mistake is using "flout" when you mean "flaunt". "Flout" means to openly disregard, while "flaunt" means to display something ostentatiously. Ensure you're conveying the intended meaning of defiance, not boastful display.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "avoid flouting" primarily functions as a verb phrase where "avoid" is the main verb and "flouting" acts as a gerund, functioning as the object of the verb. This construction describes the act of preventing or steering clear of openly disregarding a rule or law. The Ludwig AI analysis indicates that the phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "avoid flouting" is a grammatically sound and usable phrase that emphasizes the importance of adhering to rules and norms. While Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, its usage is relatively rare, primarily appearing in news and academic contexts. It serves to highlight proactive efforts to prevent open defiance or disregard of regulations. When writing, be mindful of potential confusion with "flaunt" and ensure you're conveying the intended meaning of preventing disregard. For more formal settings, consider synonyms like "prevent defiance" or "deter non-compliance".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

steer clear of violating

Focuses on keeping a distance to avoid violating something, adding a layer of caution.

refrain from disregarding

Emphasizes the act of willingly choosing not to disregard something, adding a sense of conscious choice.

prevent defiance

Emphasizes stopping an act of open resistance or disobedience. It replaces "flouting" with a stronger term.

forestall violation

Focuses on preventing a breach or infringement of a law or agreement, carrying a more formal tone.

deter non-compliance

Focuses on discouraging a failure to act according to rules or regulations, making it slightly more formal.

avert contravention

Highlights the action of turning away or preventing an action that violates a law, treaty, or code of conduct, carrying a more formal tone.

evade disregard

Highlights the act of skillfully escaping from a situation where something is ignored, replaced "avoid" to "evade"

circumvent disrespect

Suggests finding a way around showing a lack of respect, adding a layer of strategy.

eschew contempt

Highlights the act of deliberately avoiding feelings of disdain or scorn for something, adding a layer of moral stance.

preclude mockery

Focuses on preventing actions that could make something look ridiculous, which has a specific kind of outcome.

FAQs

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

You can use "avoid flouting" to emphasize proactively adhering to a rule or standard. For example, "To maintain a good reputation, it is essential to "avoid flouting" the established guidelines".

What's a less formal alternative to "avoid flouting"?

For a less formal alternative, consider phrases like "stay within the lines" or "play by the rules", which convey a similar meaning in a more casual context.

What words are commonly confused with "flouting"?

The word "flouting" is often confused with "flaunting". Remember that "flout" means to openly disregard, while "flaunt" means to display ostentatiously. Therefore, it's important not to confuse it with "flaunting".

Is "avoid flouting" appropriate for formal writing?

Yes, "avoid flouting" is appropriate for formal writing. However, for even more formal contexts, you might consider alternatives like "prevent defiance" or "deter non-compliance".