avoid the risk of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "avoid the risk of" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing strategies or actions taken to prevent potential negative outcomes or dangers. Example: "To ensure the safety of our employees, we must take measures to avoid the risk of accidents in the workplace."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

We have to avoid the risk of unintended consequences.

The Guardian

That option would avoid the risk of having American boots on the ground in Pakistan.

The New Yorker

Victims would receive payments more quickly, while businesses would avoid the risk of huge verdicts.

The New York Times

An honest lawyer might say it's always good to avoid the risk of losing a trial.

The New York Times

To prevent organised opposition and avoid the risk of a coup, he dissolved the paramilitary FOI.

The Guardian

And finally you avoid the risk of looking impotent when your selections turn you down.

The Guardian - Opinion

Asbestos victims would be paid faster, while businesses would avoid the risk of huge jury verdicts.

The New York Times

It is imperative to avoid the risk of a spiral of violence.

The Guardian

At the same time, she did not overhaul her daily life to avoid the risk of being outed.

The New York Times - Magazine

"We also want to continue to look at our people, and to make sure we avoid the risk of complacency".

The New York Times - Sports

"We avoid the risk of national protectionism by creating a European mechanism," says one commission official.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "avoid the risk of", ensure that the action taken to avoid the risk is clearly stated and directly related to the potential negative outcome. For example, "To avoid the risk of data breaches, implement strong encryption protocols."

Common error

Avoid using "avoid the risk of" when complete elimination of the risk is not possible or guaranteed. In such cases, consider using phrases like "mitigate the risk of" or "reduce the likelihood of" to more accurately reflect the situation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "avoid the risk of" functions as a purpose connector, introducing a clause that explains the reason for taking a particular action. It indicates an intention to prevent a potential negative outcome, as illustrated by Ludwig examples across various domains.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "avoid the risk of" is a versatile and commonly used expression to indicate actions taken to prevent potential negative outcomes. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and applicable across diverse contexts. Its usage spans from formal settings like business and scientific publications to more general news and media. While widely accepted, it's crucial to ensure that complete elimination of risk is plausible when using this phrase; otherwise, alternatives like "mitigate the risk of" or "reduce the likelihood of" might be more appropriate. By understanding its function, purpose, and common usage, writers can effectively convey caution and proactive planning in their communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

mitigate the risk of

Focuses on reducing the severity or impact of the risk, rather than complete avoidance.

prevent the risk of

Emphasizes proactive measures to stop the risk from happening in the first place.

eliminate the risk of

Suggests a complete removal of the possibility of the risk occurring.

reduce the likelihood of

Aims to decrease the probability of the risk, but doesn't guarantee its avoidance.

avert the danger of

Highlights the action of turning away or preventing a specific danger or threat.

guard against the threat of

Implies taking protective measures to defend against a potential threat or risk.

foreclose the possibility of

Indicates preventing something from being considered or happening in the future.

preclude the chance of

Means to prevent something from happening or being possible.

dodge the bullet of

An idiomatic expression meaning to narrowly escape a dangerous or unpleasant situation.

sidestep the issue of

Suggests avoiding dealing with a problem or situation directly.

FAQs

How can I use "avoid the risk of" in a sentence?

Use "avoid the risk of" to describe actions taken to prevent potential negative outcomes. For instance, "We need to implement safety measures to avoid the risk of accidents".

What's a good alternative to "avoid the risk of"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "mitigate the risk of", "prevent the risk of", or "reduce the likelihood of".

Is it always possible to "avoid the risk of" something completely?

No, sometimes complete avoidance is not possible. In such cases, it's more accurate to aim to mitigate the risk of or "reduce the risk of" something instead.

How does "avoid the risk of" differ from "eliminate the risk of"?

"Avoid the risk of" implies taking actions to prevent a risk from occurring, while "eliminate the risk of" suggests completely removing the possibility of the risk.