avoid women

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "avoid women" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where someone is advising or expressing a preference to stay away from women, possibly in social or dating situations. Example: "After my last relationship, I decided to avoid women for a while to focus on myself."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

Writing about the new antirape law, another Facebook commentator introduced a possible future strategy for the group's members: "Now it's better to avoid women, like u avoid cobras…".

The New York Times

By Jia Tolentino March 31, 2017 It's one thing for somebody like Mike Pence to avoid women who make him feel a certain way; it's another to avoid women as a group and as a rule.

The New Yorker

"The reality is that if Britain wasn't on our doorstep, we would have had to introduce abortion legislation years ago to avoid women dying in back-street abortions," he said.

The New York Times

Corcoran will tell her daughters to avoid men like me as husbands, and I will exhort my son to avoid women like Ms. Corcoran.

Forbes

Simultaneously, I have to avoid women.

HuffPost

But there's one subject many of the candidates seem to avoid: women's rights.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

It turns out that men avoided women whom they perceived to be smarter than themselves.

The New York Times

Another client in the nonprofit sector, he said, is actively monitoring whether any senior leaders seem to be avoiding women to mentor or sponsor.

The Washington Post

Parkinson typically avoids women who self-identify as feminist, figuring they'd clash, but she's dating a feminist now.

Vice

We should avoid using "woman" or "women" as a modifier.

The New York Times

Similarly, firms that face greater litigation risk may avoid putting women in top management positions due to reservations about women's ability to deal with litigation.

Harvard University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "avoid women", ensure the context is clear and avoids promoting harmful stereotypes or discrimination. Be mindful of the implications and potential interpretations of such a statement.

Common error

Avoid using "avoid women" in contexts where it could be misconstrued as misogynistic or discriminatory. Always provide sufficient context to clarify the intended meaning and prevent misunderstandings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "avoid women" functions as a verb phrase where "avoid" is the verb and "women" is the direct object. It indicates an action of intentionally staying away from or minimizing contact with women. Ludwig AI validates this usage through real-world examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

34%

Science

28%

Wiki

17%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

6%

Formal & Business

9%

Academia

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "avoid women" is grammatically sound and commonly used, but its implications necessitate careful consideration. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase can appear in a variety of contexts, from news reports and scientific studies to personal advice on WikiHow. While grammatically correct, the phrase's potential to promote harmful stereotypes means it is paramount to ensure appropriate context and clarity. Alternatives like "limit interactions with women" or "maintain professional boundaries" may provide a more neutral tone depending on the intent.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

stay away from women

This is a direct and simple alternative, focusing on physical or social distance.

limit contact with women

Suggests reducing the frequency or duration of interactions.

steer clear of women

Implies caution or potential danger in interacting with women.

minimize interactions with women

Focuses on reducing the amount or significance of contact.

keep your distance from women

Emphasizes maintaining a safe or respectful boundary.

evade women

Suggests actively trying to escape or dodge contact.

be wary of women

Implies a sense of distrust or suspicion towards women.

shun women

Implies a deliberate and often moral or social rejection of women.

eschew relationships with women

Focuses on avoiding romantic or intimate connections.

abstain from interacting with women

Emphasizes a voluntary restraint from social engagement.

FAQs

What does it mean to "avoid women"?

To "avoid women" generally means to intentionally keep away from women, either physically or socially. The reasons for doing so can vary greatly, ranging from personal preferences to social or professional strategies.

What are some reasons someone might choose to "avoid women"?

Reasons can range from a desire to focus on personal growth, to past negative experiences, to religious or cultural beliefs. In professional settings, it might relate to "avoiding accusations" or perceived biases.

Is it appropriate to say someone should "avoid women"?

The appropriateness depends heavily on context. In some situations, it could be seen as sexist or discriminatory. In others, it might be a personal choice or a strategy to "avoid complications".

What's a more neutral way to express the idea of "avoid women"?

Consider alternatives like "limit interactions with women", "maintain professional boundaries", or "focus on personal development" depending on the specific situation. These phrases are less likely to be misinterpreted.