avoided attempting

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "avoided attempting" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing actions that someone chose not to take or efforts that were deliberately not made. Example: "She avoided attempting to solve the problem on her own, preferring to seek help instead."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Mr. Spielberg and the screenwriters, Lee Hall and Richard Curtis, have wisely avoided attempting to reproduce the atmosphere and effects of the stage production, in which Joey and the other horses are portrayed by huge puppets.

The New York Times

"Reshuffles have a negative impact on the effectiveness of the government," the cross-party group of MPs reported, adding that parliamentary scrutiny suffered, too, since "it is difficult to hold ministers to account for policies they oversaw if they have moved to new posts". So perhaps we should be grateful that David Cameron avoided attempting anything more substantial.

The Guardian - Opinion

We were constantly mindful of the risk of over-interpretation and avoided attempting quantitative assessment of measures of agreement/disagreement.

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Antebellum Presidents couldn't very well avoid attempting to explain the relationship between the American experiment and the peculiar institution.

The New Yorker

Analysts at RBC have considered the possibilities and concluded that BAE should avoid attempting another mega deal.

The Guardian - Business

Though it is not official policy, Cláudio Maierovitch, the director of the communicable disease surveillance department at the ministry of health, has advised women in high-risk areas to avoid attempting to conceive.

The Guardian

Right-wing extremists themselves are not given to writing novels of self-­analysis, only apocalyptic violence porn like "The Turner Diaries," and Pollack wisely avoids attempting to provide easy answers to their pathology.

The New York Times - Books

In this scenario, thieves avoid attempting to steal tagged items.

Crime Science

Furthermore we avoid attempting bilateral stenting in very advanced disease because in cases of complex hilar strictures bilateral stenting may not be sufficient for complete drainage.

BMC Gastroenterology

Overfitting may be minimised through sensible model selection, which for survival models implies avoiding attempting to fit models with more than 1 candidate variable (degree of freedom) for each 10 events of interest (e.g., death) included in the analysis.

British Journal of Cancer

As a new instructor, student resistance and the potential for poor student evaluations at the end of the course can seem sufficient reason to avoid attempting active learning and becoming more innovative in the classroom.

CBE Life Sciences Education

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "avoided attempting", ensure that the reason for avoidance is clear or implied in the context. This provides a more complete understanding of the decision.

Common error

Avoid using "avoided attempting to not do something", as it creates a double negative and confuses the meaning. Instead, focus on what was done or achieved by avoiding the attempt.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "avoided attempting" functions as a verb phrase, typically used to indicate a deliberate decision not to undertake a particular action. Ludwig confirms that this phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Wiki

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "avoided attempting" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe a conscious decision not to try something. Ludwig indicates that this expression, while correct, is relatively uncommon. Its usage spans across news, scientific, and general contexts. When writing, ensure the reason for avoidance is clear. Consider simpler alternatives like "avoided" when appropriate. The phrase is best used to convey a deliberate decision to not engage in an action, often due to perceived difficulty or futility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

refrained from attempting

This alternative emphasizes the conscious decision to hold back from making an attempt.

desisted from trying

This phrase is slightly more formal and highlights the act of ceasing to try.

abstained from attempting

This option stresses the voluntary act of refraining.

shunned the effort to

This alternative uses stronger language, suggesting a deliberate avoidance.

evaded attempting

This suggests escaping or eluding the attempt.

bypassed the attempt to

This conveys the idea of going around or circumventing an attempt.

skirted the attempt at

This implies a careful or artful avoidance of making an attempt.

sidestepped attempting

Implies skillfully avoiding an attempt.

dodged the effort of

This suggests evading or escaping the need to make an attempt.

circumvented the attempt to

Indicates finding a way around making an attempt.

FAQs

How can I use "avoided attempting" in a sentence?

You can use "avoided attempting" to describe a situation where someone consciously chose not to try something. For example, "She "avoided attempting to argue" with him, knowing it would be futile."

What's a more formal way to say "avoided attempting"?

A more formal alternative would be "refrained from attempting". For instance, "The committee "refrained from attempting a vote" on the matter."

Is it always better to use "avoided attempting" instead of just "avoided"?

Not necessarily. Using just "avoided" can sometimes be more concise and effective. For example, "He "avoided the question"" is often better than "He avoided attempting to answer the question."

What are some common mistakes people make when using "avoided attempting"?

One common mistake is using it in contexts where a simpler verb like "skipped" or "ignored" would be more appropriate. Also, be careful not to create awkward phrasing by unnecessarily adding "attempting".