avoidance

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "avoidance" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where one is discussing the act of avoiding something, such as a situation, responsibility, or confrontation. Example: "His avoidance of difficult conversations often leads to misunderstandings in relationships."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

In what appeared to be pointed criticism of increasingly firm rhetoric from Cameron on multinational tax engineering, Carr insisted tax avoidance "cannot be about morality – there are no absolutes".

The Guardian - Tech

There are promises on tax avoidance and evasion, something promised by successive governments which is often easier to announce than to achieve.

The Guardian - Opinion

About £6bn would come from tackling tax avoidance and £12bn from departmental spending cuts.

The Guardian

Ed spoke brilliantly about the 2008 financial crisis, corporate tax avoidance and other issues with candour and determination to fix these threats to society.

The Guardian - Opinion

We will also set up a Treasury Commission to monitor the effectiveness of the new Diverted Profits Tax and bring in any further measures necessary to prevent large multinational corporations using aggressive tax avoidance schemes".

The Guardian - Tech

Even the government has made loud noises about curbing tax avoidance, giving £900m to Revenue & Customs to fight it.

The Guardian - Business

To him, it seemed that tax avoidance and tax havens were a real impediment to allowing developing countries to function properly, and also a moral issue for companies in the developed world; for the Jersey-born Christensen, paying a fair amount of tax was the duty of any good citizen.

The Guardian - Business

"Fairness means that everyone should pay their taxes, zero tolerance of evasion and aggressive avoidance.

The Guardian

It is also proposing that the government can add $2bn to its coffers by closing loopholes on multinational tax avoidance, such as changing guidelines on what can be classified as company assets, and allowing the Tax Office to have greater oversight over big international firms.

The Guardian

Lord Lawson, the former Conservative chancellor, described the business as orchestrating tax avoidance on an "industrial scale".

The Guardian - Business

At his regular briefing at 11am, the prime minister's spokesman said Darling had decided to pay back money "for the avoidance of doubt" but the spokesman would not accept the contention put to him by journalists that the chancellor had done anything wrong.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "avoidance" when you want to emphasize the act of keeping clear of something, whether it's a physical object, a situation, or a responsibility. For instance, in legal or business contexts, "tax avoidance" refers to legal strategies to minimize tax liability.

Common error

Be careful not to confuse "avoidance" with "evasion". While "avoidance" often implies staying away from something legally or ethically, "evasion" usually suggests illegally escaping a duty or responsibility, such as tax evasion.

Linguistic Context

The noun "avoidance" primarily functions to denote the act of avoiding or preventing something. Ludwig AI shows that it is often used in contexts related to preventing negative outcomes or evading responsibilities. For example, "tax avoidance" refers to legal strategies to minimize tax liability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

15%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the noun "avoidance" is frequently used to describe the act of preventing or keeping away from something. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and most commonly found in news and media, as well as formal and business contexts. When using "avoidance", it's crucial to differentiate it from "evasion", ensuring clarity in your writing. Mastering the nuances of "avoidance" enhances precision and effectiveness in both formal and informal communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

evasion

Focuses on skillfully escaping or eluding something, often with a sense of cunning or trickery.

shunning

Emphasizes deliberately ignoring or rejecting someone or something, often due to disapproval.

circumvention

Highlights finding a way around obstacles or rules, often in a legal or technical context.

dodging

Suggests quick and agile movements to evade something, often implying a physical threat or challenge.

aversion

Indicates a strong dislike or disinclination towards something, leading to avoidance.

prevention

Emphasizes taking action to stop something from happening in the first place, thus avoiding its occurrence.

elusion

Implies escaping detection or capture, often in a more formal or strategic manner.

abstention

Refers to voluntarily refraining from something, often due to moral or ethical reasons.

bypassing

Highlights going around something, often to save time or effort.

escape

Denotes getting free from confinement or control, sometimes implying danger or urgency.

FAQs

How to use "avoidance" in a sentence?

You can use "avoidance" to describe the act of preventing something from happening or the act of keeping away from something. For example, "The company's policy focused on risk avoidance" or "His avoidance of eye contact was noticeable".

What are some synonyms for "avoidance"?

Some synonyms for "avoidance" include "evasion", "shunning", "circumvention", and "aversion depending on the specific context".

What's the difference between "avoidance" and "evasion"?

"Avoidance" typically refers to legally or ethically keeping away from something, while "evasion" usually implies illegally escaping a duty or responsibility. For example, "tax avoidance" is legal, but "tax evasion" is illegal.

What does "avoidance of doubt" mean?

"Avoidance of doubt" is a phrase often used in legal and formal contexts to emphasize clarity and prevent potential misunderstandings or misinterpretations. It is often seen in contracts and official documents.