avoid stories

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "avoid stories" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when advising someone to refrain from telling or sharing narratives, often in contexts where brevity or focus is required. Example: "In this meeting, we need to stick to the facts and avoid stories that may distract from our main objectives."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

She advised him to avoid stories in which "a young man looks back nostalgically at his basketball-playing days".

The New Yorker

(I avoid stories set in prison for the same reason: guaranteed nightmares, often involving ferrets, a small cage and me).

The New York Times - Books

Push her on it, and she'll avoid stories about people and tell you instead about a puppet.

The Guardian

The truth is that many American filmmakers, including favorites of mine like David Fincher, Michael Mann, Paul Thomas Anderson and Wes Anderson largely or completely avoid stories about women.

The New York Times

Domestic media coverage has been tightly controlled, with reporters instructed to focus on the heroism of rescue workers and to avoid stories about the thousands of Buddhist monks who dug through debris or handed out food from the trunks of cars.

The New York Times

-Kevin Quealy analyzes a study showing readers tend to avoid stories that contradict their beliefs.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

She said editors talk daily about avoiding stories with "a predictive tone or premise".

The New York Times

Journalism isn't really journalism when it avoids stories for fear of how some might react.

The Guardian - Opinion

Maybe capturing the fluidity of existences on the page means avoiding stories that are too rigidly defined.

The New Yorker

While the project's organizers intentionally avoided stories about the famous writers, artists and film stars who migrated to the East End, some of their interview subjects are known west of the Shinnecock Canal.

The New York Times

"You can look at queer film-making in the past 20 years and say we often reverted to using metaphor as a way of telling our stories and avoided the stories themselves," says Sachs.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing concisely, use "avoid stories" to maintain focus and prevent digressions from the core subject matter. For example, in a business presentation, "avoid stories" to keep the audience engaged with key data points.

Common error

While "avoid stories" is grammatically correct, it can sound overly formal or stiff in casual conversations. Opt for more natural alternatives like "let's not get sidetracked" or "stick to the point" to maintain a friendly tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "avoid stories" functions primarily as a verb phrase, where "avoid" acts as a transitive verb taking "stories" as its direct object. Ludwig AI indicates its correctness for general usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "avoid stories" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase that serves as a directive to abstain from narrating events. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's most commonly found in news and media contexts but can be applied across various situations where maintaining focus is crucial. While versatile, it's important to consider the context, as it may sound overly formal in casual conversations. When in doubt, consider more natural alternatives to ensure clear communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

steer clear of narratives

Implies a deliberate choice to bypass certain narratives.

refrain from anecdotes

Specifically suggests holding back from sharing personal stories or brief accounts.

evade narratives

Focuses on escaping or dodging certain stories.

sidestep tales

Suggests skillfully avoiding the topic of certain stories.

circumvent narratives

Implies finding a way around telling specific stories.

eschew stories

Means to deliberately avoid or abstain from certain narratives.

dodge narratives

Suggests quickly moving away from certain stories.

bypass narratives

Implies going around or ignoring certain stories.

shun tales

Means to persistently avoid certain stories due to dislike.

neglect to recount narratives

Highlights failure or omission in sharing narratives.

FAQs

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

You can use "avoid stories" to advise someone to refrain from telling narratives, often in contexts where brevity or focus is required. For example: "In this meeting, we need to stick to the facts and "avoid stories" that may distract from our main objectives."

What are some alternatives to "avoid stories"?

Alternatives include "steer clear of narratives", "refrain from anecdotes", or "eschew stories", depending on the context and level of formality you want to convey.

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

The phrase is most appropriate in formal settings such as business meetings or academic discussions where focusing on factual information is crucial. In casual contexts, it may sound too formal.

Is "avoiding stories" the same as "avoid stories"?

"Avoiding stories" is the gerund form, referring to the act of evading narratives. "Avoid stories" is an imperative, a direct instruction to refrain from telling them. The choice depends on whether you're describing an action or giving a command.