avoiding disturbing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "avoiding disturbing" is not correct in standard written English.
It may be intended to convey the idea of preventing disturbance or disruption, but it lacks clarity and proper grammatical structure. Example: "She focused on avoiding disturbing the neighbors while practicing her music."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

The scientists wore protective gear and moved carefully to avoid disturbing the office environment, placing 17 plates around Mr. Daschle's office to sample the air.

The New York Times

No development will be permitted, in order to avoid disturbing the contaminates because of driving in piles or digging trenches for utilities.

The New York Times

On Diedre Sud we had to reroute ourselves to avoid disturbing a nesting seagull, then paused on a hands-width ledge to admire the staggering view.

The Guardian - Travel

Visitors to the garden are asked to switch off their cellphones, for security reasons and to avoid disturbing the harmony of nature.

The New York Times

Entering Thornton Wood you have to watch your feet, treading cautiously through crisp leaves to avoid disturbing the bumblebees burrowing into the soft soil of the bank.

The Guardian

We quietly unhook the ladder that will lead us to it (we must avoid disturbing the people in the flats on this floor) and climb up.

The Guardian

To avoid disturbing the still-fragile housing finance market, it limited sales to $10 billion a month, and said it would discontinue the sell-off if any market disturbances occurred.

The New York Times

To avoid disturbing his wife's sleep, he sang in a whisper, thus adding to the eerie atmosphere already created by lyrics heavy with Southern gothic imagery.

Independent

Your seaside stroll is interrupted by a diversion inland to avoid disturbing the occupants of Villa The Rock, the grandest property along the shore.

Independent

The balls and music are powered by electric motors or a clockwork spring: they only play during the day, to avoid disturbing the owner's sleep.

The New York Times

Derek's mother, Alethea, works six days a week as a cleaning woman, is proud of her own house and tapes cardboard over the lower panes of her kitchen window every spring to avoid disturbing the birds nesting outside.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming to express the idea of preventing a disturbance, opt for more grammatically sound alternatives such as "preventing disturbance" or "avoiding a disturbance".

Common error

Avoid using "avoiding" directly followed by a gerund like "disturbing". Instead, use "avoiding + a/the + noun" or rephrase the sentence for clarity and grammatical correctness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "avoiding disturbing" aims to function as a gerund phrase, intending to express the action of preventing something from being disrupted. However, according to Ludwig, it is not considered grammatically correct in standard English.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "avoiding disturbing" is generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. Ludwig AI confirms this assessment. Although the intention is clear – to express the act of preventing disruption or annoyance – it's advisable to use more grammatically sound alternatives such as "avoiding a disturbance", "preventing disturbance", or rephrasing the sentence altogether. While potentially understandable in informal contexts, it's best to avoid this phrase in formal writing to maintain clarity and professionalism. Remember, there are good alternatives like "preventing disturbance".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

preventing disturbance

More grammatically sound; replaces the gerund form with a noun.

refraining from disruption

Uses a more formal verb ("refraining") and noun ("disruption").

not causing a disturbance

Emphasizes the action of not creating an issue.

making no disturbance

Similar to "not causing a disturbance" but slightly more emphatic.

keeping from bothering

More informal and focuses on preventing annoyance.

circumventing disruption

Focuses on finding a way around potential disruption.

bypassing interference

Implies actively navigating around something that could interfere.

averting disturbance

More formal, suggests a proactive effort to prevent disturbance.

warding off disruption

Suggests actively protecting against disruption.

evading disturbances

Focuses on skillfully avoiding multiple potential disruptions.

FAQs

What's a grammatically correct way to use "avoiding" to express preventing a disruption?

Instead of "avoiding disturbing", use "avoiding a disturbance" or "avoiding the disturbance". For example, "They tiptoed to avoid "avoiding a disturbance"".

Are there formal alternatives to "avoiding disturbing"?

Yes, you could use phrases like "preventing disruption" or "refraining from disruption". These are more suitable for professional and academic contexts. Example: "The goal is "preventing disruption" to the workflow".

How can I rephrase a sentence to avoid using "avoiding disturbing" altogether?

Try using constructions like "to not disturb" or "so as not to disturb". For example, instead of "avoiding disturbing the peace", say "to not disturb the peace" or "so as not to disturb the peace".

What's the difference between "avoiding disturbing" and "avoiding disturbance"?

"Avoiding disturbance" is grammatically sound, using "disturbance" as a noun. "Avoiding disturbing" is generally considered incorrect because "disturbing" acts as a verb, not a noun. Replace with "avoiding a/the disturbance".