have been averted

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "have been averted" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that a negative event or situation has been prevented or avoided. Example: "Thanks to the quick response of the emergency services, a disaster has been averted."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

That danger may now have been averted.

The Economist

Could the crisis have been averted?

The Guardian

It could have been averted by negotiations and wise policy.

The Washington Post

For now the crisis appears to have been averted.

The New York Times

In this case, the peaceful means have been averted.

The Guardian

If they had been, this calamity could have been averted.

The New York Times

As elsewhere, financial catastrophe seemed to have been averted.

The Economist

Fears of more political gridlock in Ukraine have been averted.

The Economist

Had we instead kept banks small and boring, the whole fiasco might have been averted.

Columbia University

GAZETTE: Are there any compromises you wish could have been averted?

Harvard University

Explosions in relations with Iran, North Korea and even China have been averted, for now.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "have been averted" to emphasize that a potential negative outcome was successfully prevented through specific actions or circumstances. For example, "The crisis have been averted due to swift intervention."

Common error

Avoid using "have been averted" passively when an active voice would be more impactful. For instance, instead of "Disasters have been averted", consider "Interventions averted disasters" for a stronger statement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have been averted" functions as a passive perfect construction, indicating that a potential negative outcome was successfully prevented. Ludwig shows various examples where it highlights successful avoidance of crises, disasters, or other undesirable events.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Academia

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

10%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "have been averted" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression to indicate the successful prevention of a negative outcome. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is utilized across various contexts, from news reporting to academic writing. The phrase is characterized by a neutral register and serves to convey relief or reassurance. While alternatives like "have been prevented" or "have been avoided" can be used, "have been averted" specifically implies that a potential crisis was skillfully managed or preempted.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have been prevented

Focuses on the act of stopping something from happening, similar to averting but with a stronger emphasis on direct prevention.

have been avoided

Emphasizes steering clear of something, suggesting a deliberate action to evade a negative consequence.

have been stopped

Highlights the action of halting or ceasing a process or event, focusing on the termination of something undesirable.

have been warded off

Implies actively deflecting or repelling a threat or danger, adding a sense of active protection.

have been forestalled

Suggests acting in advance to prevent something from happening, emphasizing proactive measures.

have been headed off

Indicates intercepting or diverting something to prevent it from reaching a certain point or outcome.

have been circumvented

Implies finding a way around an obstacle or problem, avoiding it through ingenuity or strategy.

have been deflected

Suggests turning aside or redirecting something, preventing it from causing harm or reaching its intended target.

have been mitigated

Focuses on reducing the severity or impact of something negative, rather than preventing it entirely.

were successfully evaded

Highlights the successful escape from a difficult or dangerous situation, with an emphasis on the evasion.

FAQs

How can I use "have been averted" in a sentence?

The phrase "have been averted" indicates that a negative outcome was successfully prevented. For example, "The financial crisis "may have been averted" due to the government's timely intervention."

What are some alternatives to saying "have been averted"?

You can use alternatives like "have been prevented", "have been avoided", or "have been forestalled" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "the disaster was averted" or "the disaster has been averted"?

The choice depends on the context. "The disaster was averted" implies a completed action in the past. "The disaster has been averted" suggests the action is completed and has relevance to the present situation.

What is the difference between "have been averted" and "have been mitigated"?

"Have been averted" means a negative outcome was completely prevented. "Have been mitigated" means the severity or impact of a negative outcome was reduced, but not necessarily prevented entirely.