deter away

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "deter away" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct expression is "deter" on its own, which means to discourage someone from taking an action. Example: "The high cost of living can deter people from moving to the city."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

"You can't deter away a refugee flow," said Jennifer Podkul, the director of policy for Kids in Need of Defense.

Huffington Post

I began to deter away from the very religion that had given me so much joy growing up: my mom sharing bed time stories about the prophets; Eid festivities; and the feeling a sense of peace when the adhan echoed around the house.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

"I've not seen any problems that would deter customers away from the restaurant," she added.

The New York Times

Use of fancy fonts which may give sophisticated look to your website may just prove to be unreadable and may even deter people away from your page.

WikiHow

There are some bright spots – the recent involvement of WWF to assist a community in deterring bears away from town.

The New York Times

"There is no doubt about it, the price fall of the last several months has deterred investors away from expensive oil including U.S. shale, deep offshore, and heavy oils," a top Saudi official told the Financial Times last spring.

Huffington Post

Education is for young people and I'm not going to do anything to deter or take away from the goals and objectives of this basketball team.

The New York Times - Sports

In the past, some lenders have sought judgments against a few borrowers to deter others from walking away, said Grant S. Nelson, an emeritus law professor at the University of California, Los Angeles.

The New York Times

The Spanish bolthole was far enough away to deter activists from going to see him, and avoid the risk of their bumping into him.

The Guardian

Reliance bought 16 exploration blocks in two auctions, even as the global firms shied away, deterred by a low oil price and India's patchy record.

The Economist

Should he be held alive and be deterred from taking away his life to prevent him from completing his mission, which would contradict the law?

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming to express the idea of discouraging or preventing an action, it's best to use "deter" on its own. For example, instead of "deter away", use "deter" followed by the object you wish to discourage, such as "The fines deter speeding."

Common error

Avoid using "away" after "deter". The word "deter" already implies preventing movement or action, so adding "away" creates an unnecessary repetition. The phrase can come across as awkward or unidiomatic.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "deter away" when it appears in text is as a verb phrase. However, it's important to note that Ludwig AI identifies this usage as non-standard. The intended function is typically to express the action of preventing or discouraging something or someone.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Wiki

34%

Science

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "deter away" appears in some contexts, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect. The correct and more widely accepted term is simply "deter". When aiming to express the idea of preventing or discouraging an action, it's best to avoid the redundant "away". Instead, focus on using "deter" followed by the object you wish to discourage. Although sources like the "Huffington Post" and "The New York Times" contain the phrase, it's important to prioritize grammatical correctness for clear and effective communication. Alternatives such as "discourage from", "dissuade from", and "prevent from" offer clearer and more standard ways to convey the intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

dissuade from

Focuses on advising or persuading someone not to do something, changing their mind rather than physically stopping them.

discourage from

Similar to dissuade, it emphasizes reducing someone's enthusiasm or willingness to do something.

prevent from

Highlights the act of stopping something from happening or someone from doing something, often through direct action.

ward off

Implies deflecting or repelling something, often a danger or threat.

keep at bay

Suggests maintaining a safe distance to prevent something from approaching or affecting you.

hold back

Emphasizes restraining or preventing movement or progress.

turn away

Focuses on causing someone to move in a different direction or abandon their course.

fend off

Indicates actively defending against or resisting an attack or unwanted advance.

avert

Stresses the act of preventing something negative from occurring, often by taking proactive measures.

inhibit

Refers to slowing down or hindering a process or action, reducing its intensity or likelihood.

FAQs

What does "deter" mean, and how does it differ from "deter away"?

"Deter" means to discourage someone from doing something, typically through fear or doubt. The phrase "deter away" is generally considered incorrect. Standard English prefers "deter" alone.

Is it grammatically correct to say "deter away"?

No, "deter away" is not considered grammatically correct in standard written English. The correct expression is "deter" on its own. See "discourage", "prevent", or "dissuade" for alternatives.

What are some alternatives to using "deter away" in a sentence?

Instead of "deter away", you can use alternatives like "dissuade from", "discourage from", or "prevent from". For example, "The high prices deter customers" is preferred over "The high prices deter customers away".

How can I use "deter" correctly in a sentence?

Use "deter" followed by the object you wish to discourage, and then optionally a preposition like "from" if necessary. Example: "The security measures deter crime." Alternatively, use the phrase "keep at bay".