for fear of

USAGE SUMMARY

The expression ‘for fear of’ is correct and usable in written English.
It is often used to express the idea of being afraid of something, and is usually followed by a noun or verb. For example, "The toddler held tightly onto her mother's hand, for fear of getting lost."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Perhaps, for fear of setting a precedent.

The Economist

deal for fear of competition.

The New York Times

We need authority for fear of anarchy.

The New Yorker

Nurse, for fear of something worse.

The Guardian - Opinion

They stint on contributions for fear of alarming taxpayers.

The Economist

Few stop for fear of being knocked over.

The Economist

(He didn't want his name used for fear of retribution).

The New York Times

She stopped eating meat for fear of getting sick.

The Economist

He requested anonymity for fear of retribution by Fox.

The New York Times

These sources asked to remain unnamed for fear of retaliation.

The New York Times

He declined to provide his name for fear of reprisals.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "for fear of" to clearly express the reason why someone is avoiding a particular action or situation. Ensure that the phrase is followed by a noun or gerund that specifies what is being feared.

Common error

Avoid using a full infinitive verb after "for fear of". The correct structure involves a noun phrase or gerund (verb ending in -ing). Incorrect: "She stayed inside for fear of to get wet." Correct: "She stayed inside for fear of getting wet."

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "for fear of" is to act as a prepositional phrase that modifies a verb or clause. It provides the reason or motivation behind an action, indicating what someone is trying to avoid. Ludwig confirms this usage is prevalent across various sources.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "for fear of" is a prepositional phrase used to express the reason for avoiding something, driven by a sense of apprehension. According to Ludwig, this expression is grammatically correct and widely used. It appears most frequently in news and media, scientific writing, and formal business contexts. When using the phrase, ensure it's followed by a noun or gerund. While "for fear of" is a versatile expression, alternatives like "to avoid the risk of" or "due to concerns about" can be used depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in apprehension of

Replaces "fear" with "apprehension", emphasizing a sense of worry or unease about something that might happen.

to avoid the risk of

Focuses on avoiding a specific risk, highlighting the proactive nature of the action taken.

to prevent the possibility of

Emphasizes the intention to prevent something from happening, highlighting the potential consequence.

due to concerns about

Shifts the focus to the underlying concerns motivating the action, rather than fear itself.

out of concern for

Similar to the above, but highlights the care or consideration for something or someone.

lest

A more formal and somewhat archaic synonym, conveying the idea of "in order that... not".

for the sake of avoiding

Highlights the avoidance as the primary reason for the action.

in order to evade

Focuses on evading or escaping a negative outcome.

on account of worrying about

Replaces the more direct "fear" with the more verbose "worrying about".

anticipating the chance of

Centers on foreseeing a possible unwanted event.

FAQs

How can I use "for fear of" in a sentence?

Use "for fear of" to indicate the reason someone avoids something. For example, "He didn't speak up "for fear of retribution"".

What can I say instead of "for fear of"?

You can use alternatives like "due to concerns about", "to avoid the risk of", or "lest", depending on the context.

Is "for fear of" formal or informal?

"For fear of" is generally considered neutral to slightly formal. While appropriate in most writing, you might choose a simpler alternative like "because of concerns about" in very informal contexts.

Which is correct, "for fear of" doing something or "for fear to" do something?

"For fear of" doing something (using the gerund form of the verb) is the correct usage. "For fear to" do something is grammatically incorrect.