avoid inquiring

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "avoid inquiring" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when advising someone to refrain from asking questions or seeking information about a particular topic. Example: "In sensitive situations, it is often best to avoid inquiring about personal matters."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Only the NBC group was summoned back to the I.O.C. building, at about 7 10 in the Swiss evening, driven into the basement to avoid inquiring eyes and prying questions in the lobby.

The New York Times - Sports

Baltimore, like many cities, has a long-standing custom of generally staying out of immigration enforcement, and Baltimore police generally avoid inquiring about suspects' or witnesses' immigration status.

The Washington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

In order to avoid selection bias, we inquired for the one member of the household fulfilling criteria of eligibility with the most recent birth date and asked him or her to participate.

BMC Public Health

I inquired how to avoid suffering after my death, and he flittered about like an immense carp, smiling so widely that for an instant I took alarm and wondered if he meant to eat me.

Vice

He was condemned to a lifetime of walking a few paces behind, making conversation, shaking hands, inquiring politely, not making waves, avoiding controversy.

The Guardian

It is only when physicians gently inquire (often avoiding the word "hallucination") that people feel free to admit seeing things that are not there — despite their blindness.

The New York Times

They eliminated a "pure-heart, empty-head" defense that permitted lawyers to avoid sanctions by asserting that they had not inquired into the merits of their case.

The New York Times

Also, while many Montreal businesses will take US currency, it is polite to inquire before engaging in a transaction to avoid a rebuff later.

BBC

Schools are supposed to avoid measures that could discourage children from attending, such as inquiring into citizenship at all, the Departments of Education and Justice wrote in a 2014 letter.

HuffPost

It will be impossible for us to avoid or minimize this threat because it is not feasible to inquire about the missing information through the Open Hub repository.

Journal of Internet Services and Applications

And be sure to inquire whether there are any out-of-pocket costs to avoid surprises later.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "avoid inquiring" when advising someone to not ask questions in situations where doing so might cause discomfort or reveal sensitive information.

Common error

While grammatically correct, "avoid inquiring" can sound overly formal in casual settings. Opt for simpler alternatives like "don't ask" or "let's not get into that" for a more natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "avoid inquiring" functions as a directive or recommendation, advising against asking questions or seeking information. As per Ludwig, this is often in situations where such inquiries might be inappropriate or cause discomfort.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "avoid inquiring" is a grammatically correct and usable expression that suggests refraining from asking questions, often to prevent discomfort or bias. Ludwig AI indicates that it is suitable for situations where seeking information might be inappropriate. While more formal than casual alternatives like "don't ask", "avoid inquiring" maintains a neutral tone and is commonly found in news and media. Remember to use it judiciously, opting for simpler language in informal contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

refrain from asking

Focuses specifically on withholding questions, removing the implication of potential consequences.

abstain from questioning

Emphasizes a deliberate choice to not question, often in a formal or moral context.

do not investigate

Highlights the act of not conducting an investigation, often implying a formal inquiry.

steer clear of questioning

Suggests avoiding a topic or line of questioning to prevent conflict or discomfort.

bypass the inquiry

Indicates a deliberate act of circumventing or skipping an investigation or questioning.

hold back from probing

Implies a conscious effort to not delve deeply into a subject.

desist from querying

Formal way to express stopping an act of asking questions, suitable for legal or official settings.

evade questioning

Describes actively avoiding being questioned, often due to discomfort or suspicion.

shun the interrogation

Suggests avoiding a formal or intense questioning process.

side step any inquiry

Implies skillful avoidance of a potentially awkward or sensitive subject of questioning.

FAQs

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

You can use "avoid inquiring" to suggest refraining from asking questions about a particular topic, such as, "In sensitive situations, it is often best to "avoid inquiring" about personal matters."

What are some alternatives to "avoid inquiring"?

Alternatives include "refrain from asking", "do not investigate", or "steer clear of questioning" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "avoid inquiring"?

The phrase "avoid inquiring" is appropriate when suggesting that asking questions could be intrusive, impolite, or counterproductive in a given situation.

Is "avoid inquiring" formal or informal language?

"Avoid inquiring" is generally considered more formal. In casual conversation, simpler phrases like "don't ask" or "let's not go there" might be more suitable.