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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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avoid problem

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "avoid problem" is not correct in standard written English.
It should be "avoid problems" to be grammatically accurate. Example: "To ensure a smooth project, we must avoid problems during the planning phase."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

Still, the vast investment landscape makes it relatively easy for managers to avoid problem areas and, as one put it, concentrate on the "low-hanging fruit".

News & Media

The New York Times

"That's a major, big-time, red flag conflict of interest and a very high risk loan," said Connie Wilson of AppIntell, a consulting firm that helps lenders avoid problem loans.

News & Media

The New York Times

Connie Wilson of AppIntell, a firm in Weldon Spring, Mo., that helps lenders avoid problem loans, said employees of the lender and others who profit from the loans are almost always involved in loans that later end up in foreclosure.

News & Media

The New York Times

More broadly, the company said it had stringent measures to avoid problem lending, including a system adopted last year to determine whether borrowers would truly benefit from its loans.

News & Media

The New York Times

But there are simple steps that taxpayers can take to avoid problem preparers.

News & Media

Forbes

The small positive constant ε is added to avoid problem of logarithm of zeros and division of zero.

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Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

"The government is trying to avoid problems," he explained.

News & Media

The New Yorker

And some Indian software companies are trying out new ways to avoid problems altogether.

News & Media

The New York Times

They will also want to avoid problems if it ever came to repossessing the property.

Some clients require privacy to avoid problems from jealous family members".

News & Media

The Guardian

The Met must certainly hope to avoid problems that arose in Italy.

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Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the plural form "problems" after "avoid" to ensure grammatical correctness. For example: "The team worked diligently to avoid problems during the project rollout".

Common error

Using the singular noun "problem" with "avoid" is a common grammatical error. Always ensure that you use the plural form "problems" to maintain grammatical accuracy. Instead of saying "avoid problem", say "avoid problems".

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

82%

Authority and reliability

3.2/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "avoid problem" functions as a verb phrase where "avoid" is the verb and "problem" is the object. However, this particular construction is grammatically incorrect because "problem" should be pluralized to align with standard English grammar. Ludwig AI confirms this with its analysis of the phrase.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

41%

News & Media

38%

Formal & Business

21%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "avoid problem" appears in various sources, it's grammatically incorrect and should be "avoid problems". Ludwig AI identifies this grammatical issue, suggesting that the plural form is necessary for correctness. The phrase aims to express prevention, typically in neutral to formal contexts like science, news, and business. To ensure clarity and accuracy in your writing, prioritize using the plural form or consider alternatives such as "prevent issues" or "steer clear of difficulties". Therefore, always double-check your grammar to prevent such errors.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say "avoid problem"?

The correct phrasing is to use the plural form: "avoid problems". The singular form is grammatically incorrect.

Are there alternatives to saying "avoid problems"?

Yes, you can use phrases like "prevent issues", "steer clear of difficulties", or "mitigate challenges" depending on the specific context.

Is "avoid problem" ever acceptable in writing?

No, "avoid problem" is generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard written English. You should always use "avoid problems" or a similar alternative.

What's the difference between "avoid problem" and "avoid problems"?

"Avoid problem" is grammatically incorrect due to the singular noun. "Avoid problems" is the correct and standard way to express the idea of preventing multiple difficulties.

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Source & Trust

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Authority and reliability

3.2/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: