deviate to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "deviate to" is not commonly used in written English and may not be considered correct in most contexts.
It can be used when discussing a change in direction or focus, but it is more typical to use "deviate from" instead. Example: "The project began to deviate to a different approach than originally planned."

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

For a selection of the next set of the rate parameters, lognormal proposal distributions were used based on logarithm of random values selected from a normal distribution with mean 0 and standard deviation 0.05; this can be achieved either by adding a normal deviate to the log of the parameter, or by multiplying the parameter by the exponential of the normal deviate.

BMC Systems Biology

They should keep a laserlike focus on precisely that and never deviate to please short-term traders.

The New York Times

Chapter divisions are more creative (eg Deviate to Dominate, Punishing Precariously Placed Pieces) and all the examples are from Flear's tournament career, supplemented by a few games from his wife Christine, both seasoned professionals.

The Guardian - Sport

Cooks are like musicians; there are those who read the sheet music and replicate it bar for bar, and then there are those who can riff and deviate to make a song their own.

The New York Times - Food

Each group included three confederates one of whom conformed to the group's modal opinion, one of whom disagreed (the deviate), and one who gradually changed from the deviate to the modal opinion (the slider).

Encyclopedia Britannica

The seam is upright and a change in the pressure from his middle finger and first finger, and a slight shift in the thumb that supports the ball, can dictate whether the ball will deviate to the left or the right.

The Guardian - Sport

In this way, a consumer chooses to deviate to the action that maximizes its own utility.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

However, in order to avoid other aircraft, pilots are permitted to "temporarily deviate to the right of the route".

BBC

This means that the real output of wind farms will deviate to a significant difference from the predicted output.

Journal of Modern Power Systems and Clean Energy

In contrast, string instruments experience inharmonicty patterns that deviate to the higher end of the calculated harmonic location [28].

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

While Apple has sought to make the iOS interface consistent, more experienced users would appreciate the ability to deviate to their own tastes.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "deviate to", ensure the context clearly indicates a movement or shift towards a specific alternative, rather than a general departure from something. For example, "The path began to deviate to the left".

Common error

Avoid using "deviate to" when "deviate from" is more appropriate. "Deviate from" indicates a departure from a standard or expected path, while "deviate to" suggests a change in direction towards something specific. Ensure you're indicating directionality, not just departure.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "deviate to" functions as a phrasal verb, indicating a change in direction or course towards a specific location, idea, or state. As Ludwig indicates, this phrase suggests movement toward a particular alternative, making it distinct from a general departure.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

66%

News & Media

27%

Wiki

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while less prevalent than "deviate from", the phrasal verb "deviate to" finds its place in describing a directional shift or change towards a specific endpoint, especially within scientific and news contexts. As Ludwig AI's analysis suggests, the phrase is considered acceptable when used to indicate a movement or shift towards a specific location or idea. Remember to consider context, prioritizing clarity by occasionally opting for alternatives such as "divert to", especially when indicating direction is key.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

divert to

This alternative implies a redirection to a different path or purpose.

stray to

This alternative suggests a wandering or unintentional shift.

veer to

This alternative indicates a change in direction, often suddenly.

shift to

This alternative implies a more deliberate change in position or focus.

turn to

This alternative suggests a change of focus or action towards something.

incline toward

This alternative suggests a leaning or tendency to move in a certain direction.

deflect toward

This alternative implies that something is caused to turn away from a straight path.

gravitate toward

This alternative suggests a natural movement or attraction to something.

trend toward

This alternative implies a general tendency or direction of movement.

bend toward

This alternative suggests a curving or flexing movement towards something.

FAQs

Is "deviate to" grammatically correct?

While less common than "deviate from", "deviate to" is considered acceptable in contexts where a specific direction or alternative is implied. However, it's important to ensure clarity and precision in your writing.

What does "deviate to" mean?

"Deviate to" means to turn away from an original course and move in the direction of something else. It implies a change in direction or focus towards a specific point.

Which is more common, "deviate to" or "deviate from"?

"Deviate from" is significantly more common. It generally refers to departing from a standard, norm, or expected path. "Deviate to" implies a movement or shift in direction toward a specific alternative, and you can use alternatives such as "divert to" or "stray to".

When should I use "deviate to" instead of "deviate from"?

Use "deviate to" when you want to emphasize the specific direction or alternative that something is moving towards. For example, "The river began to deviate to the east". In contrast, "deviate from" simply indicates a departure from something without specifying a destination.