avoid of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "avoid of" is not correct and usable in written English.
To avoid something, we usually use "avoid", for example: "I'm trying to avoid eating too much sugar."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

29 human-written examples

Indeed, in each case, two other federal courts had ruled in favor of the Bush administration, leaving the Supreme Court with the obligation, hard to avoid, of being the final arbiter.

The New York Times

None of the Rugby Football Union members who, this week, will see the findings into England's calamitous Rugby World Cup campaign will receive a copy of the review in an effort to avoid of a repeat of four years ago when the inquiry into the flawed 2011 campaign was leaked.

The Guardian - Sport

When they were completing the questionnaire, they seemed to avoid of expressing their real depressive mood.

The Journal of Headache and Pain

Many authors avoid of using the normality condition of P (see [13 15]).

Fixed Point Theory and Applications

Here, we avoid of using such condition and the sub-additivity assumption (Theorem 4.7).

Fixed Point Theory and Applications

How can we avoid of learning with only a few example?

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

31 human-written examples

Not every difficult issue can be avoided, of course.

The New York Times

You avoid out-of-season grapes.

The New York Times

"He helped us avoid seas of blood".

BBC

I avoid situations of power.

Vice

Try to avoid braiding of locks.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use "avoid" followed directly by the object you are trying to prevent. For example, "avoid mistakes" is correct.

Common error

The preposition "of" is unnecessary and grammatically incorrect after "avoid". The correct structure is "avoid + noun/gerund" not "avoid of + noun/gerund".

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "avoid" is as a transitive verb, meaning it requires a direct object. The inclusion of "of" after "avoid" creates a grammatically incorrect construction, as highlighted by Ludwig AI. The correct usage involves "avoid" directly followed by a noun or gerund.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

35%

News & Media

30%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Social Media

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "avoid of" is grammatically incorrect. As Ludwig AI points out, the correct usage is simply "avoid" followed by the noun or gerund representing what is being prevented. While examples exist across various contexts like news, science, and wikis, the grammatical error significantly reduces the phrase's effectiveness and credibility. Remember to avoid of this common mistake, and stick to the grammatically sound alternative: "avoid".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

avoid

This is the correct and most direct way to express the action of avoiding something.

steer clear of

This alternative emphasizes deliberately keeping a distance from something.

refrain from

This option highlights self-control in not doing something.

abstain from

This suggests a more formal and disciplined avoidance.

keep away from

This indicates physically staying away from something or someone.

evade

This suggests cleverly escaping or dodging something.

escape

This conveys the act of getting free from something dangerous or unpleasant.

bypass

This implies going around something rather than confronting it.

circumvent

This means finding a way around obstacles or rules.

shun

This suggests deliberately avoiding someone or something, often due to disapproval.

FAQs

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

Use "avoid" directly followed by a noun or gerund (verb ending in -ing) representing what you are trying to prevent. For example, "I try to avoid crowds" or "I avoid making mistakes".

Is it ever correct to use a preposition after "avoid"?

No, the preposition "of" is not needed and grammatically incorrect after the verb "avoid". Instead, use alternatives like "steer clear of" or "refrain from" if you intend to use a preposition.

What can I say instead of "avoid of"?

The correct way to express the idea is simply to use "avoid" followed by the thing you want to prevent. You can also use alternative phrases like "steer clear of" or "refrain from".

What is the difference between "avoid" and "avoid of"?

"Avoid" is a verb that means to keep away from or stop oneself from doing something. "Avoid of" is grammatically incorrect and should not be used. Use "avoid" directly followed by the object you're avoiding.