avoid mistakes

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'avoid mistakes' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing something that one should keep in mind to ensure that their work is of the highest quality. For example, you could say, "If we want to make sure that our report is accurate, we should be sure to avoid mistakes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"You have to avoid mistakes".

The New York Times - Sports

Annika Sorenstam has learned to avoid mistakes.

The New York Times - Sports

The purpose is simple: to avoid mistakes.

MIT Technology Review

"And I am there to help them avoid mistakes.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

My focus … is to try to avoid mistakes in the public-policy area.

Princeton University

American publishers hope to avoid mistakes made by the music industry in handling digital content.

The New Yorker

■"Learn to delay replies when in doubt — and this avoid mistakes and misunderstanding".

The New York Times

And as players catch on, the pressure to avoid mistakes builds, suffocating them.

The New York Times - Sports

Players for both teams tried to guard the neutral zones and avoid mistakes and large openings.

The New York Times - Sports

To avoid mistakes the G-20 must be transparent and work closely with the U.N.

The New York Times

"My objective is to avoid mistakes by the police, so that people can protest in safety".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing instructions or guidelines, use "avoid mistakes" to clearly communicate the need for caution and accuracy. For example, "Read the instructions carefully to avoid mistakes during assembly."

Common error

While it's important to "avoid mistakes", don't let the fear of error paralyze you. Focus on continuous improvement rather than unattainable perfection.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "avoid mistakes" functions as an imperative, urging the listener or reader to take actions that will prevent errors. It is often used to give advice or provide instructions, as seen in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Academia

22%

Science

21%

Less common in

Wiki

16%

Formal & Business

6%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "avoid mistakes" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase that emphasizes the importance of accuracy and caution across diverse contexts. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and common usage. It's register is neutral, which makes it fit for most writing circumstances. Whether you're crafting instructions, offering advice, or highlighting best practices, remembering to "avoid mistakes" ensures clarity and professionalism. While striving for perfection is admirable, focus instead on continuous improvement to cultivate higher-quality work.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

prevent errors

Changes focus from general mistakes to specific errors, slightly narrowing the scope.

prevent inaccuracies

Replaces "mistakes" with "inaccuracies", emphasizing lack of precision.

steer clear of errors

Uses a more figurative expression, implying careful navigation to prevent errors.

eliminate errors

Focuses on removing existing errors rather than preventing them.

minimize errors

Emphasizes reducing the impact or frequency of errors, rather than complete avoidance.

reduce mistakes

Similar to minimize, but focuses on lowering the number of mistakes.

ensure accuracy

Shifts the focus to achieving correctness as the primary goal.

maintain precision

Highlights the importance of keeping a high level of exactness and detail.

correct errors

Highlights the action of correcting errors when present.

rectify errors

Highlights the action of rectifying errors when present.

FAQs

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

You can use "avoid mistakes" to emphasize the importance of caution and accuracy. For example, "It is crucial to "avoid mistakes" when calculating financial projections".

What are some alternatives to saying "avoid mistakes"?

You can use alternatives such as "prevent errors", "ensure accuracy", or "minimize errors" depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "avoid mistakes" or "prevent mistakes"?

Both ""avoid mistakes"" and "prevent mistakes" are grammatically correct and can be used interchangeably. However, ""avoid mistakes"" might suggest a more proactive approach.

What's the difference between "avoid mistakes" and "correct mistakes"?

"Avoid mistakes" focuses on preventing errors from happening in the first place, while "correct mistakes" refers to fixing errors that have already occurred.