avoidable suffering

USAGE SUMMARY

'avoidable suffering' is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe any kind of suffering that could have been prevented. For example, "The hunger in this region is a result of avoidable suffering caused by poor economic planning."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

25 human-written examples

However, pain that is undetected (because clinicians did not ask) or under-treated it represents avoidable suffering.

Harvard Business Review

But the average length of stay in Canada is 36% higher (7.5 vs. 5.5 days) in part because, as Prof. Danzon explains, "more hospital beds in Canada are occupied by elderly patients with average length-of-stay of over sixty days, despite waiting lists for acute care admissions". The consequence is avoidable suffering as patients wait months rather than weeks for various types of surgery.

Forbes

We can all hold this truth as self-evident: that no one should experience avoidable suffering.

HuffPost

The end result of the complicated web of professionals that stands between a disaster and a payout can sometimes be weeks or months of delays while otherwise avoidable suffering continues unchecked.

Forbes

This only prolongs an agonizing dying process, decreases quality of life and causes avoidable suffering.

The New York Times

Another measurable source of avoidable suffering is patients' experience of staff coordination.

Harvard Business Review

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

35 human-written examples

The nine cases featured in the report make for miserable reading, as they detail the avoidable distress, suffering and even death for the people involved.

The Guardian

That "special" patients, such as the family and friends of clinicians, often speed through the system without delays shows that such waits and dropped balls are indeed avoidable sources of suffering.

Harvard Business Review

Do they not have, moreover, an ethical duty, stated by Perkin and Resnik [2] using the American Institute of Medicine's definition: "A decent or good death is one that is: free from avoidable distress and suffering for patients, families, and caregivers; in general accord with clinical, cultural, and ethical standards?" [14].

Annals of Intensive Care

There is a growing understanding that health disparity populations (i.e., low SES groups, racial/ethnic minorities, and residents of distressed neighborhoods) are overlapping populations suffering avoidable health inequities resulting from unequal distribution of health-damaging and health-protecting exposures in daily life [ 10, 11].

BMC Pediatrics

The Institute of Medicine Committee on Care at the End of Life suggested that a good death is one that is free from avoidable distress and suffering for patients and their families, in accord with the patients' and families' wishes, and reasonably consistent with clinical, cultural, and ethical standards [ 4].

BMC Palliative Care

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing systemic issues like poverty or healthcare disparities, use "avoidable suffering" to emphasize that these problems are not inevitable and can be addressed through policy changes and resource allocation.

Common error

Be precise in your claims. Not all suffering is "avoidable". Clearly identify the factors that make the suffering preventable and avoid generalizations that could undermine your argument.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "avoidable suffering" functions as a noun phrase, where "avoidable" modifies the noun "suffering". It describes a type of suffering that could be prevented or alleviated. Ludwig AI indicates that this phrase is grammatically correct and usable in English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

17%

Less common in

Academia

10%

Reference

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "avoidable suffering" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to describe suffering that could have been prevented. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and appropriate for use in written English. Its purpose is often to call attention to injustices and motivate action by emphasizing the preventable nature of the suffering. The phrase sees frequent use across news media, scientific publications, and formal business communications. When using "avoidable suffering", it's important to be precise about what makes the suffering preventable and avoid overstating the scope of its avoidability. Alternatives like "preventable anguish" and "unnecessary pain" can offer nuanced variations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

preventable anguish

Replaces "suffering" with "anguish" to emphasize emotional distress, while "preventable" is a direct synonym for "avoidable".

unnecessary pain

Focuses on the physical or emotional pain aspect of suffering, highlighting its lack of necessity.

needless distress

Substitutes "suffering" with "distress", suggesting a state of worry or discomfort that could have been averted.

gratuitous misery

Replaces "suffering" with "misery" to amplify the intensity of the experience, while "gratuitous" stresses the lack of justification.

preventable hardship

Shifts the focus to the difficulties and adverse conditions, emphasizing their avoidability.

unwarranted torment

Uses "torment" instead of "suffering" to denote severe physical or mental suffering, highlighting its lack of justification.

uncalled-for agony

Replaces "suffering" with "agony" to intensify the emotional or physical pain, emphasizing that it was not justified.

evitable pain

"Eritable" is a synonym for avoidable, providing a direct substitution while maintaining the focus on the pain aspect.

reducible suffering

Highlights the possibility of lessening the degree of suffering, even if complete avoidance is not possible.

alleviated suffering

Focuses on the potential to ease or relieve suffering through intervention or action.

FAQs

How can I use "avoidable suffering" in a sentence?

You can use "avoidable suffering" to describe situations where suffering could have been prevented through specific actions or policies. For example, "The lack of access to basic healthcare leads to "avoidable suffering" in many communities".

What are some alternatives to "avoidable suffering"?

Alternatives include "preventable anguish", "unnecessary pain", or "needless distress", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "avoidable suffering" the same as "unnecessary suffering"?

While similar, "avoidable suffering" emphasizes the possibility of prevention, whereas "unnecessary suffering" highlights that the suffering serves no useful purpose. The choice depends on which aspect you want to emphasize.

What is an example of avoidable suffering in healthcare?

An example is the suffering caused by medical errors, which can often be prevented through better training, protocols, and oversight. This contrasts with suffering that may be an unavoidable part of certain illnesses or treatments.