avoid ruling

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "avoid ruling" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where one wants to express the intention of not making a decision or judgment on a particular matter. Example: "In order to maintain neutrality, we should avoid ruling on the issue until all perspectives have been considered."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

Even if they avoid ruling on Proposition 8's constitutionality or rule narrowly to give gay people marriage rights only in California, other cases dealing with challenges to the federal Defense of Marriage Act are already winding their way through the federal courts.

Huffington Post

The player will keep his answers sufficiently vague to avoid ruling out anything.

The New York Times - Sports

"Judges have clearly sought to avoid ruling on genocide in the two cases that involved low-ranking people," said an expert at the court.

The New York Times

Although courts normally avoid ruling on where the line falls in the spectrum of power between the executive branch and the legislative branch, the Obama administration's step is likely to face judicial scrutiny.

The New York Times

In a hint that the appeals judges may avoid ruling directly on the constitutional issue, Judge Cabranes and Judge Joseph M. McLaughlin focused on an issue that the government is not arguing on appeal.

The New York Times

The debate on assisted suicide, for example, should be left to run for several years yet; although appeals courts in New York and on the west coast had considered the issue ripe for a decision, the court was right to avoid ruling this summer.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

Although the supreme court – Pakistan's highest judiciary – has avoided ruling on the NRO cases, late last month it ruled a state of emergency imposed by Musharraf in November 2007 illegal.

The Guardian - Opinion

A representative of the M5S avoided ruling out a deal to elect the country's next prime minister.

The Guardian

Mr. Bush and Mr. Rumsfeld have carefully avoided ruling out a military strike on North Korea, though they have both publicly insisted that this is a moment for diplomacy and that no military action is currently contemplated.

The New York Times

In the Proposition 8 case, Hollingsworth v. Perry, a differently composed 5-to-4 majority led by Chief Justice John Roberts Jr. avoided ruling on the merits of the constitutional challenge to the discriminatory ballot measure by finding that its proponents lacked standing to appeal.

The New York Times

The same day, the court avoided ruling on the merits of a separate case questioning the constitutionality of state same-sex marriage bans, finding instead that a private party did not have standing to defend the California law in court.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for neutrality or preventing premature closure, use "avoid ruling" to indicate a deliberate choice not to make a decision until more information is available.

Common error

Avoid using the passive voice when "avoid ruling" can be more direct. Instead of saying, "A ruling was avoided", try "They avoided ruling" for a clearer, more active sentence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "avoid ruling" functions primarily as a verb phrase, indicating the action of deliberately not making a decision or judgment. As illustrated by Ludwig, this expression is commonly used in legal, political, and general contexts to describe instances where a definitive ruling is intentionally sidestepped.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "avoid ruling" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression that signifies a deliberate decision not to make a judgment or decision. According to Ludwig, this phrase is particularly common in News & Media and Science contexts. It's best practice is to use it to signal neutrality or the need for more information before making a decision, while avoiding its overuse in the passive voice. Alternatives include ""refrain from deciding"" and "decline to rule". Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's validity and usability in written English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

refrain from deciding

Suggests a deliberate choice to not make a decision.

abstain from judgment

Emphasizes withholding an opinion or assessment.

sidestep a decision

Implies cleverly evading the need to make a ruling.

skirt the issue

Indicates avoiding direct engagement with the matter at hand.

decline to rule

Formally refusing to make a determination.

hold off on deciding

Postponing the act of making a decision.

evade judgment

Actively escaping the responsibility of making a judgment.

bypass a ruling

Going around the need for a formal decision.

dodge the decision

Skillfully avoiding being forced to make a ruling.

stay neutral on the matter

Maintaining impartiality by not taking a position.

FAQs

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

You can use "avoid ruling" to indicate a deliberate decision not to make a judgment or decision. For example, "The court chose to "refrain from deciding" to "avoid ruling" on the matter until further evidence was presented."

What's a formal alternative to "avoid ruling"?

A more formal alternative would be "decline to rule". It suggests a more official or considered choice not to make a determination.

In what situations is it appropriate to "avoid ruling"?

It's appropriate to "avoid ruling" when more information is needed, when remaining neutral is important, or when the issue is too sensitive to make a direct judgment. This allows for a more considered and informed approach.

What is the difference between ""avoid ruling"" and "postpone a decision"?

"Avoid ruling" suggests a desire not to make a decision at all, possibly due to neutrality or lack of information. "Postpone a decision" implies delaying the decision to a later time.