deter from

USAGE SUMMARY

"deter from" is not a correct or usable phrase in written English.
If you want to use the verb "deter" in a sentence, you would use it as a transitive verb, followed by an object. For example, "The risk of a poor financial outcome deterred him from investing in the stock market."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

44 human-written examples

This may provoke anxiety or deter from beneficial surgery.

Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery

But this flaw does not deter from the book's saucy vitality.

The New York Times - Books

The bottom line is I'm not going to let that deter from what we did yesterday.

The New York Times - Sports

"I keep telling him his vesatility and his idiosyncrasies deter from his ability.

The New York Times - Sports

No previous design thinking experience is required, though certainly it won't deter from your class experience if you have it.

Stanford University

Archival finding aids are supposed to be unbiased so that they do not deter from the research process.

Columbia University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

16 human-written examples

But it can be deterred from war.

The New York Times

Mr. Broadhurst isn't deterred from trying new dishes, though.

The New York Times - Food

After 7 g4, Black was not deterred from 7..

The New York Times - Arts

But he wasn't deterred from completing the project.

The Guardian - Arts

They will, therefore, be deterred from threatening China, e.g. by interrupting its oil supplies.

Orbis

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "deter from". Use "deter" followed by the object being deterred, or replace with a more grammatically sound alternative such as "prevent from" or "discourage from".

Common error

Many writers incorrectly use "deter from" when they should simply use "deter" followed by a direct object. For example, instead of writing "The high cost may deter from purchasing", write "The high cost may deter purchasing" or "The high cost may deter buyers". Alternatively, consider restructuring the sentence to use "prevent from": "The high cost may prevent buyers from purchasing."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "deter from" functions as a verb phrase intended to express prevention or discouragement. However, it's grammatically non-standard. Ludwig indicates that the correct usage of "deter" involves following it with a direct object, not "from."

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Academia

27%

Science

23%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Formal & Business

1%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "deter from" is commonly used to convey the idea of preventing or discouraging an action. However, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect. A more standard way to use "deter" is by following it directly with the object being deterred. For example, "High prices deter buyers". Alternatively, you can use phrases like "prevent from" or "discourage from". Despite its frequent appearance in diverse sources such as news media and academic publications, it's important to recognize that "deter from" is non-standard, and adopting more precise language enhances clarity and credibility in writing. To maintain grammatical correctness, it is best to use the verb "deter" without the preposition "from".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

stop from

A more direct and simple way of saying prevent.

discourage from

Uses a different verb to convey a similar sense of dissuasion.

prevent from

Emphasizes the action of stopping something from happening.

dissuade from

Suggests a more active attempt to persuade someone not to do something.

restrain from

Focuses on holding back or limiting an action.

inhibit from

Highlights the act of hindering or impeding.

hinder from

Implies making it difficult for something to proceed.

impede from

Similar to hinder but suggests a more significant obstacle.

avert from

Conveys the idea of turning away or avoiding something.

preclude from

Suggests making something impossible.

FAQs

How can I properly use the verb "deter" in a sentence?

The verb "deter" should be followed by a direct object, indicating what is being discouraged or prevented. For example, "The high prices deterred many buyers."

What's a grammatically correct alternative to "deter from"?

Instead of "deter from", use phrases like "prevent from", "discourage from", or simply use "deter" followed by the object.

Is it ever correct to use the phrase "deter from"?

While you might find instances of "deter from" in writing, it is generally considered grammatically incorrect. Opt for clearer and more standard alternatives.

How does using "deter" differ from using "prevent from"?

"Deter" directly implies discouraging someone or something. "Prevent from" focuses on stopping an action from happening. Both achieve similar meanings but have slightly different focuses.