desire to prevent

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "desire to prevent" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when expressing a wish or intention to stop something from happening. Example: "The organization's desire to prevent climate change has led to numerous initiatives aimed at sustainability."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Most shared a desire to prevent the internet's break-up.

The Economist

Cristina Fernández de Kirchner's desire to prevent capital flight.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"One reason for the airport seizure was the desire to prevent the landing of other troops.

The Guardian

The desire to prevent a political explosion helps explain BP's aggressive response.

The New York Times

This is complicated, and I respect the president's desire to prevent a mass killing in Libya.

The New York Times

One reason could be a desire to prevent Mr. Xi from taking complete control this autumn.

The New York Times

"As Governor, I recognize the desire to prevent burdensome regulations on businesses across the state.

The Guardian

I am with the attorney general on his desire to prevent papers prejudicing trials.

The Guardian

Q: You spoke during the campaign about your desire to prevent "securitization" of the Iranian state.

The Washington Post

The desire to prevent the spread of infectious diseases has long existed.

Britannica

"At all times we talked of our desire to prevent the shedding of blood," he said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the tone and context. While "desire to prevent" is generally suitable for various situations, using more formal alternatives like "intention to forestall" may be appropriate in professional or academic settings.

Common error

Avoid repetitive use of "desire to prevent" within a single piece of writing. Vary your language by using synonyms like "wish to avert" or "aim to preclude" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "desire to prevent" functions as an infinitive phrase expressing purpose or intention. It indicates the reason or goal behind an action, often related to avoiding a negative outcome. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

59%

Science

22%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Wiki

2%

Academia

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "desire to prevent" is a commonly used and grammatically correct way to express an intention to stop something from happening. According to Ludwig, it's suitable for a wide range of contexts, from news reports to scientific articles, though more formal alternatives may be preferred in certain professional settings. The phrase functions as an infinitive phrase expressing purpose, often related to avoiding a negative outcome. While "desire to prevent" is widely accepted, varying your language with synonyms like "wish to avert" or "aim to preclude" can enhance your writing. In summary, "desire to prevent" serves as a valuable tool for articulating motivations aimed at averting undesirable situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

wish to avert

Replaces "desire" with "wish" and "prevent" with "avert", softening the tone slightly.

intention to forestall

Substitutes "desire" with "intention" and "prevent" with "forestall", suggesting a more proactive approach.

aim to preclude

Replaces "desire" with "aim" and "prevent" with "preclude", indicating a formal and decisive effort.

aspiration to preclude

Replaces "desire" with "aspiration" and "prevent" with "preclude", indicating a formal and decisive effort.

goal to hinder

Substitutes "desire" with "goal" and "prevent" with "hinder", implying a less complete prevention.

objective to impede

Replaces "desire" with "objective" and "prevent" with "impede", suggesting slowing down or obstructing rather than completely stopping.

urge to thwart

Substitutes "desire" with "urge" and "prevent" with "thwart", implying a strong feeling to block something.

motivation to deter

Replaces "desire" with "motivation" and "prevent" with "deter", suggesting discouraging something from happening.

ambition to obviate

Replaces "desire" with "ambition" and "prevent" with "obviate", meaning to remove the need or occasion for something.

inclination to stop

Replaces "desire" with "inclination" and "prevent" with "stop", creating a simpler and more direct expression.

FAQs

How can I use "desire to prevent" in a sentence?

You can use "desire to prevent" to express an intention to stop something from happening. For example, "The government's desire to prevent the spread of misinformation led to new regulations."

What are some alternatives to "desire to prevent"?

Alternatives include "wish to avert", "intention to forestall", or "aim to preclude", depending on the context and desired level of formality.

Is "desire to prevent" formal or informal?

"Desire to prevent" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, more formal alternatives might be preferred in academic or professional writing.

What is the difference between "desire to prevent" and "want to prevent"?

"Desire to prevent" is slightly more formal and emphasizes a stronger feeling or intention compared to "want to prevent", which is more direct and commonly used in everyday language.