avoid the distress

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "avoid the distress" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing strategies or actions taken to prevent emotional or physical suffering. Example: "To maintain a positive atmosphere, we must find ways to avoid the distress that often accompanies difficult conversations."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Science & Research

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Streamlining next week's vote, by suggesting that all his rivals drop out to avoid the distress that democracy can bring.

The Guardian - Sport

2) Best election tactic: Bahraini royal Sheikh Salman, suggesting that his four rivals for the presidency might want to drop out to avoid the distress that democracy can bring: "If we go to election there will be losers.

The Guardian - Sport

Intuition dictates that people should be willing to give up some money to avoid the distress of hurting someone.

Science Magazine

In our sample, older fathers found infant cries less aversive and had an attenuated response to infant crying in both the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) and the anterior insula, suggesting that compared with younger fathers, older fathers may be better able to avoid the distress associated with empathic over-arousal in response to infant cries.

Physiology & Behavior

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

"Also, as with the first book, we want to avoid the damsels in distress tropes and be inclusive of people of color because these are also areas sorely lacking in children's literature.

Huffington Post

Our data show that lay people may go to considerable lengths to avoid pathologising the distress of those close to them; their thresholds are repeatedly pushed back by powerful emotions, especially fear of the consequences (for themselves, as well as for the distressed person) of acknowledgment and intervention.

British Medical Journal

This in turn reduces the anxiety associated with waiting until mid pregnancy for an ultrasound diagnosis, and avoids the added distress of a late termination of pregnancy.

European Journal of Human Genetics

In 2008, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommended fetal lung maturity testing for all patients born scheduled for elective delivery prior to 39 weeks gestation in order to avoid the consequences of respiratory distress from iatrogenic prematurity [ 24].

BMC Medical Genomics

These inclusion criteria were selected to reflect current recommendations for intervention studies in psycho-oncology, including targeting couples with elevated levels of distress to avoid the potential for floor effect.

BMJ Open

Essentially, the Scottish government would need to prove to the European Commission that fees were necessary to avoid the university system here becoming "distressed".

BBC

The Hartwigs sued for emotional distress in order to avoid the limitations imposed by the Feres Doctrine.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "avoid the distress", consider specifying the type of distress you are referring to (e.g., emotional distress, physical distress) to provide clarity and context for your audience.

Common error

While grammatically correct, "avoid the distress" can sound overly formal in casual conversation. Opt for simpler alternatives like "prevent the upset" or "skip the trouble" in informal settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "avoid the distress" primarily functions as a purpose clause, often introduced by "to" or "in order to". According to Ludwig AI, it describes the intention behind an action, aiming to prevent or mitigate suffering or discomfort.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

30%

News & Media

40%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Science & Research

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "avoid the distress" serves as a purpose clause, typically indicating an intention to prevent emotional or physical suffering. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. While the phrase is more common in news and scientific contexts, simpler alternatives may be preferred in informal settings. Consider specifying the type of distress you are trying to "avoid" for clarity. Despite the limited number of examples, the phrase is deemed usable and understandable, emphasizing the importance of preventing or mitigating negative experiences. The alternatives such as "mitigate the suffering" or "avert the misery" can be used as well in certain contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

prevent the anguish

Focuses specifically on preventing intense suffering or mental pain.

mitigate the suffering

Highlights efforts to lessen the severity of the suffering.

avert the misery

Emphasizes the action of turning away or preventing the onset of misery.

circumvent the pain

Implies skillfully finding a way around or avoiding the experience of pain.

evade the discomfort

Suggests a more subtle or tactical way of avoiding unpleasant sensations or feelings.

forestall the agony

Highlights acting in advance to prevent the experience of intense suffering.

preclude the hardship

Focuses on making hardship impossible or preventing it from occurring.

ward off the suffering

Suggests actively defending against or repelling the suffering.

deter the affliction

Highlights discouraging or preventing the affliction from taking hold.

negate the torment

Emphasizes rendering torment ineffective or nullifying its impact.

FAQs

How can I use "avoid the distress" in a sentence?

You can use "avoid the distress" to describe actions taken to prevent suffering, as in, "The policy was implemented to "avoid the distress" of job losses".

What are some alternatives to "avoid the distress"?

Alternatives include "prevent the anguish", "mitigate the suffering", or "avert the misery", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "avoid the distress" or "prevent the distress"?

"Avoid the distress" and "prevent the distress" are both grammatically correct and similar in meaning. "Avoid" implies steering clear of something, while "prevent" suggests stopping something from happening. The best choice depends on the specific context.

Can "avoid the distress" be used in all types of writing?

While grammatically correct, "avoid the distress" may sound overly formal in some contexts. Consider your audience and the overall tone of your writing. In more informal settings, simpler alternatives might be more appropriate.