have avoided

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "have avoided" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone has successfully stayed away from or prevented something from happening over a period of time. Example: "They have avoided making the same mistakes in their new project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

"We have avoided recessionary measures".

The New Yorker

Might China have avoided decline?

The Economist

But most others have avoided that characterization.

The New York Times

"He said he could have avoided it.

Independent

He appears to have avoided those pitfalls.

The New York Times

He may have avoided Jack Nicholson.

The New Yorker

Péchalat and Bourzat have avoided political statements.

The New York Times

So far, the students have avoided confrontation.

The New York Times

They have avoided depending on credit cards.

The New York Times

"Could we have avoided doing this?

The New York Times

He could have avoided going, too.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "have avoided" to clearly indicate that a subject has successfully prevented an action or experience. For instance, "They have avoided making the same mistakes" implies a conscious effort to learn from past errors.

Common error

Avoid using "have avoided" when discussing future possibilities. Instead, use "will avoid" or "can avoid". For example, don't say "They have avoided the problem next time"; instead, say "They will avoid the problem next time".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have avoided" functions as a verb phrase in the present perfect tense. Ludwig AI confirms its common usage in indicating that an action or situation has been successfully prevented or stayed away from.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Science

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "have avoided" is a versatile verb phrase in the present perfect tense, commonly used to express successful prevention or evasion. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and frequently appears in a wide range of contexts, from news and media to scientific writing. While generally neutral in register, it's essential to use "have avoided" to describe actions that have already been prevented, rather than future possibilities. Alternatives like "steered clear of" or "managed to dodge" offer nuanced ways to express avoidance, enhancing clarity and precision in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

steered clear of

Implies deliberate action to keep a distance.

prevented

Emphasizes stopping something from happening.

kept away from

Highlights maintaining physical or metaphorical distance.

successfully evaded

Emphasizes skillful escape or circumvention.

refrained from

Focuses on consciously holding back from doing something.

averted

Suggests turning away or warding off something harmful.

managed to dodge

Suggests narrowly escaping something undesirable.

sidestepped

Implies skillfully avoiding a direct confrontation or issue.

circumvented

Highlights finding a way around an obstacle or problem.

bypassed

Focuses on going around something without directly confronting it.

FAQs

How do I properly use "have avoided" in a sentence?

Use "have avoided" to describe actions that have been successfully prevented or situations that have been successfully stayed away from. For example: "We "have avoided" making those mistakes in the past."

What are some alternative phrases for "have avoided"?

You can use alternatives such as "steered clear of", "managed to dodge", or "successfully evaded" depending on the specific context.

Is there a difference between "have avoided" and "avoided"?

"Avoided" is the simple past tense, while "have avoided" is the present perfect tense. Use "have avoided" to emphasize the continuing relevance or impact of the avoidance. For example, "We avoided the traffic yesterday" simply states a past event, while "We "have avoided" the traffic by leaving early ever since" suggests a continuing pattern.

When should I use "have avoided" versus "could have avoided"?

"Have avoided" indicates that something was successfully prevented. "Could have avoided" suggests that something could have been prevented but perhaps wasn't. For example, "They "have avoided" the issue" means they successfully prevented it, whereas "They "could have avoided" the issue" suggests they had the opportunity to prevent it but may not have.