for the avoidance of doubt

USAGE SUMMARY

"for the avoidance of doubt" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is used to ensure that there is no misunderstanding about a particular point. For example: "I will not be attending the meeting, for the avoidance of doubt."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

For the avoidance of doubt, though, if any homophobes reading this want to avoid catching gay by boycotting water, I'm all for it.

Vice

"Brown bread" means dead, for the avoidance of doubt.

Independent

For the avoidance of doubt, that doesn't mean that a hung parliament is desirable.

The Guardian - Opinion

For the avoidance of doubt, he was talking about interference in his earpiece.

The Guardian

For the avoidance of doubt, GNM grants to Client a revocable licence to: 4.5.1.

The Guardian

For the avoidance of doubt – it was clearly a bad interview.

The Guardian - Opinion

For the avoidance of doubt, You grant GNM an irrevocable and permanent licence to: 1.2.1.

The Guardian

And, for the avoidance of doubt, there is still room for radicalism.

The Guardian - Film

The men in Orange (that's Karagandy, for the avoidance of doubt) are quivering, possibly.

The Guardian - Sport

For the avoidance of doubt, this delay only applies "in-match".

The Guardian

For the avoidance of doubt, I include myself in this critique.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "for the avoidance of doubt" when you need to explicitly prevent any potential misinterpretation of a statement, especially in legal, technical, or formal contexts. Be sure that the statement that follows is indeed clear and unambiguous.

Common error

Avoid using "for the avoidance of doubt" in casual conversation or informal writing, as it can sound overly formal or pretentious. Simpler phrases like "to be clear" or "just so you know" are more appropriate in less formal settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "for the avoidance of doubt" functions as an adverbial phrase. It modifies the sentence by introducing a statement intended to clarify a previous point and prevent potential misunderstandings. Ludwig shows many examples of this phrase introducing clarifications in legal, business, and news contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Formal & Business

18%

Science

14%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "for the avoidance of doubt" is a prepositional phrase used to ensure clarity and prevent misunderstandings, particularly in formal contexts. Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically correct and very common, especially within news, business, and scientific domains. While effective for emphasizing precision, overuse in informal settings can make communication seem stilted. Consider alternatives like "to be clear" or "to clarify" in less formal scenarios to maintain a natural tone. Remember to use this phrase strategically to provide clarity without sacrificing overall readability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

so there is no misunderstanding

This phrase directly addresses the potential for misinterpretation.

so as not to be misunderstood

This phrase highlights the desire to prevent misinterpretations.

for the sake of clarity

This alternative emphasizes the importance of clarity.

to be clear

This is a direct and simple way to emphasize clarity.

to ensure understanding

This alternative focuses on ensuring the audience comprehends the information.

to avoid confusion

This phrase focuses on preventing confusion.

to clarify

This alternative is a more concise way to introduce a clarification.

let me clarify

This alternative explicitly indicates the speaker's intention to clarify.

for clarity

This is a shorter and more direct way to indicate the intention of being clear.

in other words

This alternative introduces a rephrasing of a previous statement for better understanding.

FAQs

How can I use "for the avoidance of doubt" in a sentence?

You can use "for the avoidance of doubt" to introduce a clarification or emphasize a point to prevent misunderstanding. For example, "For the avoidance of doubt, this agreement supersedes all prior agreements."

What's the difference between "for the avoidance of doubt" and "to clarify"?

"For the avoidance of doubt" is a stronger, more formal phrase used to explicitly prevent any potential misunderstanding. "To clarify" is a more general phrase used to make something clearer.

Are there situations where I shouldn't use "for the avoidance of doubt"?

Yes, avoid using "for the avoidance of doubt" in informal settings or casual conversations. It's best suited for formal writing, legal documents, or technical specifications where precision is crucial.

What can I say instead of "for the avoidance of doubt" in a less formal setting?

In less formal settings, you can use phrases like "to be clear", "just so you know", or "let me clarify" to achieve a similar effect without sounding overly formal.