avoiding

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "avoiding" is correct and usable in written English.
It is a verb meaning to keep away from or stay clear of. For example: William has been avoiding the mall ever since the pandemic began.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Migrants who have permission to be in the UK are avoiding seeking vital medical treatment for fear of being arrested, a charity has warned.

The Guardian

He told the BBC's Andrew Marr show: "Sometimes I get the impression that people are waiting for an accident so that they can really focus [on] avoiding a bigger disaster.

The Guardian - Business

Yet the coalition endured the past year, and is most likely to survive 2013 as well, if only because its very unpopularity gives the Tories and the Lib Dems a mutual interest in avoiding an early election.

The Guardian - Opinion

The new international agreement we seek must be effective - so it must include all nations, and must ensure that the world is set on a path to avoiding dangerous climate change.

The Guardian - Opinion

"The best chance we have to detect these crimes is by avoiding people at all costs".

The Guardian

The CBI boss, who is being talked of as a successor to Dick Olver as chairman of BAE Systems, invited the G8 to consider three points in relation to tax reform: Avoiding the moral debate – "it's all about the rules".

The Guardian - Business

The 10 10 campaign was launched in September last year, based on the Climate Safety report's identification that a 10% cut in the developed world's emissions by the end of 2010 would boost the planet's chances of avoiding a climate catastrophe.

The Guardian

As long as banks exist, separation of commercial and financial banks, avoiding banks that are "too big to fail".

The Guardian - Opinion

Spain's move came as a leading economist put the country's chance of avoiding a bailout at between 50-60%.

The Guardian - Business

Having someone who can look at them, and suggest ways of avoiding them, helps them to find a proper physicality for the character they're playing.

The Guardian

He greeted me with the traditional Polish hand-kiss, and chose his words carefully, craftily avoiding my questions about Wałesa's future (he was soon to be released from detention).

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "avoiding" to describe actions taken to prevent negative outcomes or unwanted situations. This adds a proactive tone to your writing.

Common error

Ensure the object of "avoiding" is explicitly stated. Vague references can confuse the reader. For example, instead of saying "They are avoiding," specify "They are avoiding responsibility."

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "avoiding" is as a present participle or gerund. As a present participle, it forms part of a continuous verb tense (e.g., "She is avoiding me"). As a gerund, it functions as a noun (e.g., "Avoiding confrontation is her priority"). Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "avoiding" functions as a present participle or gerund, typically describing actions taken to evade or prevent something. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, its usage is grammatically correct and very common, particularly in news and media contexts. When using "avoiding", ensure clarity by explicitly stating what is being avoided and why. Common alternatives include "evading", "circumventing", and "preventing", each offering a slightly different nuance. By following these guidelines, you can effectively use "avoiding" to convey your intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

evading

Implies skillfully escaping or dodging something.

evading

This alternative implies skillfully escaping or dodging something.

dodging

Suggests quickly moving out of the way to avoid something.

circumventing

Suggests finding a way around obstacles or rules.

averting

Highlights the action of turning away or preventing a disaster.

preventing

Focuses on taking action to stop something from happening.

sidestepping

Suggests moving to the side to avoid something directly.

bypassing

Implies going around an obstacle or problem.

shunning

Indicates deliberately avoiding someone or something.

eluding

Implies escaping cleverly or skillfully.

FAQs

How can I use "avoiding" in a sentence?

You can use "avoiding" to describe actions taken to evade something. For example, "She is "avoiding the question"" or "They are "avoiding certain foods" for health reasons.

What are some alternatives to "avoiding"?

Alternatives to "avoiding" include "evading", "circumventing", "preventing", and "averting". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "avoiding to do something"?

No, the correct form is "avoiding doing something". "Avoiding" is typically followed by a gerund (a verb form ending in -ing) rather than an infinitive.

What is the difference between "avoiding" and "preventing"?

"Avoiding" implies keeping away from something, while "preventing" means stopping something from happening. You might focus on "avoiding a collision" by driving carefully, while safety barriers are in place for "preventing accidents".