divert away

USAGE SUMMARY

"divert away" is not a correct phrase in written English.
You might use the phrase "divert off" - for example, "The bus diverted off course, taking us on a longer route than expected."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

If you haven't already seen the duck films we've put together, please do take a look – they are the Open Up campaign's attempt to engage attention and divert away from exhaustion and disillusionment towards empowerment.

The Guardian - Opinion

It comes after emails leaked to the same programmed showed officials had warned Nick Clegg that his plan, announced at the autumn statement, would divert away from teaching in a way that was "wholly unacceptable" to Gove.

The Guardian

Vulnerable people should be identified at the point of arrest so they can be supported and, where appropriate, the option to divert away from the criminal justice system considered.

The Guardian - Opinion

The results show that the branches of the wormhole divert away from the areas near the main channel and the quartz volume decreases after acidification.

Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering

And as Arsenal struggled to recover some semblance of composure, it required a vital goal-line clearance from Kieran Gibbs to divert away another header from Bruce.

BBC

Spurred on, John Baird then went very close again with a shot from the edge of the box on 55 minutes which Emilio Izaguirre slid in desperately to divert away from goal.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

Many could be diverted away from custody with the right support in the community.

The Guardian

And despite proposed alternatives, it has not been diverted away from national parks.

The New York Times

Energies are diverted away from vegetative growth, leaving you with runty, fibrous and bitter-tasting leaves.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

It has been made clear that no funds will be diverted away from HS2.

The Guardian

Extra funding for the Olympics was diverted away from the Rio Paralympics.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

While "divert away" appears in some sources, consider using the single-word alternative "divert" or rephrasing to "divert from" for improved clarity and grammatical correctness.

Common error

Avoid redundant prepositions. Instead of "divert away", use the more concise "divert". Redundant prepositions can make your writing sound awkward and less professional.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "divert away" functions primarily as a phrasal verb, although it is often considered grammatically redundant. This means it describes an action of changing direction or drawing something apart. Ludwig AI flags this phrase as not fully correct.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Science

33%

Wiki

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Reference

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "divert away" appears in various sources, Ludwig AI indicates that it's generally considered grammatically incorrect. Instead, using "divert" or rephrasing the sentence with "divert from" is advisable. The phrase appears most frequently in news and media, but its grammatical ambiguity suggests using more precise alternatives. Always prioritize clarity and correctness in writing. Therefore, writers should prefer other semantically similar expressions instead of using the expression in question.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

redirect

A single word substitute, implying a change in direction or focus.

deflect

Emphasizes preventing something from hitting a target, differing slightly from a general change in direction.

turn aside

Indicates a change in direction, often to avoid something.

shift focus

Refers specifically to changing the center of attention or emphasis.

draw away

Suggests attracting something away from its current position.

re-route

To send along a different route.

channel elsewhere

Implies directing resources or attention to a different area.

draw attention from

Focuses on removing attention from a specific subject or area.

turn from

Implies ceasing to engage with or consider something.

veer

Implies a sudden change in direction.

FAQs

Is "divert away" grammatically correct?

While you might encounter the phrase "divert away", it's often considered grammatically incorrect. A more standard phrasing would be to use "divert" alone or "divert from".

What does "divert" mean?

The word "divert" means to cause something to change direction or course. It can also mean to distract someone's attention from something.

How can I use "divert" in a sentence?

You can use "divert" in a sentence like this: "The heavy rain "diverted" traffic to a different route." or "The magician "diverted" the audience's attention with a clever trick."

What are some alternatives to "divert from"?

Some alternatives to "divert from" include "deflect from", "distract from", or "turn aside from", depending on the context.