The phrase "avoid upsetting" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the need to prevent someone from becoming distressed or disturbed by a situation or information.
Example: "In order to maintain a positive atmosphere, we should avoid upsetting the team with negative news."
Alternatives: "prevent distressing" or "steer clear of troubling".
78 per cent of women will politely choke-down offensive food to avoid upsetting their host.
And she went out of her way to avoid upsetting the etiquette of the time.
"There's always a temptation to eat, but I don't give in," he said, partly to avoid upsetting his parents.
This effort to avoid upsetting the foreign guests by his presence was turned against him in the mission's report home.
A friend of Mr. Scarborough's, who asked for anonymity to avoid upsetting a personal relationship, said the eight donations of $500 each were not memorable.
"He is the cleanest politician in Iraq," said a Western diplomat who spoke on the condition of anonymity to avoid upsetting the Iraqi government.
The trouble is that in the process of protecting ideas and copyright its hard to avoid upsetting some people as the legal process is quite a blunt instrument.
But I would be surprised if too many readers notice the details because they are subtle enough - despite the new main headline typeface - to avoid upsetting the audience.
American commanders would prefer that Pakistani forces attack the militants, but Pakistani military operations in the tribal areas have slowed recently to avoid upsetting the negotiations.
Thus, mandated choice may achieve a higher rate of donations than presumed consent, and avoid upsetting those who object to presumed consent for whatever reasons.
"Not only must members of the academy yield to the hierarchical corporate governing structure, but must also now take special care to avoid upsetting the political hierarchy".
