deterring

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'deterring' is a correct and usable word in written English.
It is a verb and can generally be used to describe an action or behavior that discourages someone from doing something. For example, "The school's strict punishment policy is deterring students from breaking the rules."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Therefore fares are likely to be high, deterring the kind of intensive use that makes the construction of high speed lines worthwhile.

The Guardian - Opinion

None of this is deterring newspapers, with the Guardian also investing in the US, and the Mail expanding into other English-language markets, starting with India.

The Guardian

That would benefit many, but could also end up deterring companies from hiring obese applicants.

The Guardian - Opinion

Looking at their colleagues trying to balance medical and management careers, they are likely to see a struggle with workload (51% of leaders cite demands on time as a factor deterring them from taking on leadership roles), a lack of required resource (46%), and a lack of trust in management (43%) as challenges.

The Guardian

But the euro's horrible year is not deterring everyone.

The Guardian - Business

Finally, there is the question of whether a tax at such a low rate would be effective in deterring speculation – the economist James Tobin always thought a far higher tax would be needed to throw "sand in the wheels" of finance.

The Guardian - Business

A number of Belfast-based writers claimed the college was worried about deterring prospective students and jeopardising potential investment from parts of the Islamic world, especially the oil-rich Gulf states.

The Guardian

In her study, "Deep freeze: How business has shaped the global warming debate in Congress", MIT Professor Judith Layzer found that "The industry [disinformation] campaign was extremely effective at deterring presidential leadership".

The Guardian - Opinion

It was aimed at deterring America and its NATO allies from involving themselves in conflicts in which Russia felt it had vital interests.The key to the doctrine's credibility is for the West to believe that Russia might be willing to take the risk of using nuclear weapons because it cares far more about the outcomes in its "near abroad" than others do.

The Economist

Hitherto, it seems to have assumed that such "bad" publicity saves it more by deterring compensation claims than it costs in lost custom.

The Economist

Besides deterring Afghan warlords from reverting to type and settling quarrels with guns rather than debates, the force is intended to secure the distribution of the humanitarian aid the country so badly needs.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "deterring", ensure the context clearly indicates what or who is being discouraged, and what the discouraging factor is. For instance, "High prices are deterring customers from buying the product."

Common error

Avoid using "deterring" when a weaker term like "discouraging" or "dissuading" is more appropriate. "Deterring" implies a significant obstacle or disincentive, not just a minor influence.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "deterring" is that of a present participle, often used as part of a continuous verb tense (e.g., "is deterring") or as an adjective modifying a noun. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a verb form indicating an ongoing action.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

15%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "deterring" functions as a present participle to describe the act of discouraging or preventing an action. Ludwig AI classifies this as a valid and common verb. Its usage is prevalent across news, business, and general contexts, indicating a neutral to formal register. When writing, ensure that the object and means of "deterring" are clearly defined. Related terms include "discouraging" and "preventing", but "deterring" carries a stronger connotation of dissuasion. With a high expert rating, "deterring" remains a reliable and effective choice in various writing scenarios.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

discouraging

Emphasizes a reduction in enthusiasm or willingness, whereas "deterring" suggests a more forceful prevention.

dissuading

Involves persuading someone not to do something, similar to "deterring" but less forceful.

preventing

Focuses on stopping something from happening, "deterring" includes influencing someone's decision.

hindering

Implies making it difficult for something to proceed, "deterring" focuses on discouraging intent.

restraining

Suggests holding back or controlling, while "deterring" aims to dissuade entirely.

inhibiting

Implies a suppression or slowing down of an action, unlike the proactive discouragement of "deterring".

averting

Focuses on warding off a specific negative outcome, whereas "deterring" can be more general.

forestalling

Highlights taking action to prevent something from occurring, with "deterring" focusing on mental discouragement.

impeding

Suggests obstructing progress, rather than directly discouraging an action like "deterring".

counteracting

Implies neutralizing an effect or influence, while "deterring" specifically discourages an initial action.

FAQs

How is "deterring" used in a sentence?

"Deterring" is used to describe an action or factor that discourages someone from doing something. For example, "The high cost of living is "deterring" young people from moving to the city".

What are some alternatives to "deterring"?

Alternatives to "deterring" include "discouraging", "preventing", and "hindering", each with slight differences in nuance.

Is "deterring" a formal or informal word?

"Deterring" is generally considered a neutral to formal word, suitable for both professional and academic contexts. It's less common in very informal conversation.

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

"Deterring" implies discouraging someone from an action through fear or doubt, while "preventing" means stopping the action from happening altogether. "The alarm system is "deterring" burglars" vs. "The locked door is "preventing" entry".