avoid to touch

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "avoid to touch" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct form is "avoid touching." Example: "Please avoid touching the artwork in the gallery to prevent any damage."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Wiki

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The solution is bad for your skin please avoid to touch it.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

I avoid trying to touch my toes as I have long legs.

The Guardian - Money

Try to avoid allowing them to touch.

WikiHow

If you miss a spot when applying the shellac, avoid going back to touch it up.

WikiHow

Avoid allowing foods to touch each other if you are serving them.

WikiHow

If whenever you're with him, he continues to touch you, avoid him.

WikiHow

She went to great pains to avoid touching anything that Oghi had touched, as if he were infected with some terrible contagious disease.

The New Yorker

For instance, if one of your pets is bothering your allergies, try to avoid touching the pet and then touching your eyes.[11].[11]

WikiHow

Scrupulously, she tried to avoid touching anything, explaining to the court that she was an emergency medical technician and had been trained in how to behave at a crime site.

The New Yorker

Always try to avoid touching the grooves to prevent scratches.

WikiHow

I suppose the idea of being able to avoid being touched by existence doesn't really hit home for me.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the gerund form ("-ing" form) of a verb after "avoid". The correct construction is "avoid touching", not "avoid to touch".

Common error

Don't use the infinitive form ("to + verb") after "avoid". It's a common mistake to say "avoid to touch", but the correct structure requires the gerund: "avoid touching".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "avoid to touch" is grammatically incorrect. In English, the verb "avoid" is typically followed by a gerund (a verb in its "-ing" form). The example from Ludwig highlights the correct usage is "avoid touching".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Wiki

100%

News & Media

0%

Science

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the intention behind the phrase "avoid to touch" is clear – to prevent physical contact – it's crucial to recognize that it is grammatically incorrect. According to Ludwig, the correct form is "avoid touching", where "touching" is a gerund. To ensure clarity and professionalism in your writing, always use the gerund form after "avoid". Alternatives include "refrain from touching" or "abstain from touching". Remember that accurate grammar enhances the credibility and impact of your message.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

avoid touching

Corrects the grammatical error by using the gerund form of the verb after "avoid".

refrain from touching

Replaces "avoid to" with the more formal "refrain from", and uses the correct gerund form "touching".

abstain from touching

Similar to "refrain from touching", but implies a stronger sense of self-control or discipline.

keep from touching

A more informal way to express avoiding contact.

do not touch

Direct command to prevent contact.

prevent contact with

Focuses on preventing the contact itself rather than the act of touching.

steer clear of touching

Suggests deliberately moving away from something to avoid contact.

evade touching

Implies actively escaping or dodging contact.

bypass touching

Suggests finding an alternative route to avoid contact.

not come into contact with

A more formal and explicit way to state the avoidance of physical contact.

FAQs

What is the correct grammatical structure after the verb "avoid"?

The verb "avoid" should be followed by a gerund (verb ending in -ing). Therefore, the correct structure is "avoid touching", not "avoid to touch".

What can I say instead of "avoid to touch"?

Use the correct form "avoid touching" or alternatives such as "refrain from touching" or "abstain from touching".

Is "avoid to touch" grammatically correct?

No, "avoid to touch" is grammatically incorrect. The correct usage is "avoid touching". The verb "avoid" requires a gerund (verb ending in -ing) as its object.

How do I use "avoid touching" in a sentence?

You can use "avoid touching" to express the action of preventing physical contact with something. For example, "Please avoid touching the artwork in the museum."