have been avoided

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "have been avoided" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that certain actions or situations have been deliberately kept from occurring in the past. Example: "Many potential conflicts have been avoided through careful planning and communication."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This could have been avoided".

The New York Times - Sports

It should have been avoided.

BBC

"It could have been avoided".

The Guardian

Could this have been avoided?

The New York Times

It could all have been avoided.

Independent

Perhaps that trouble could have been avoided?

The New Yorker

First, several disasters have been avoided.

The Economist

This misadventure could have been avoided!

The New York Times

Above all, could it have been avoided?

The Economist

The traps have been avoided.

The Guardian

Could it have been avoided?

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "have been avoided" to clearly indicate that actions or measures were successfully implemented to prevent a negative outcome or situation from occurring. It often implies a proactive approach to risk management or problem-solving.

Common error

Avoid using "have been avoided" when the active voice is more appropriate and direct. For example, instead of saying "Mistakes have been avoided by the team", consider "The team avoided mistakes" for a more concise and impactful statement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have been avoided" functions as a passive construction in the present perfect tense. It indicates that certain actions or situations have been successfully prevented or circumvented up to the present time. As Ludwig AI confirms, this is a grammatically correct and commonly used construction.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Academia

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "have been avoided" is a grammatically sound and widely used phrase to express that something has been successfully prevented. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it commonly appears in news and media, academia, and business contexts. When writing, remember that while this phrase is perfectly acceptable, using the active voice can sometimes lead to more direct and impactful communication. Alternative phrases like "were prevented" or "were averted" can add nuance to your writing. By understanding its usage and context, you can effectively incorporate "have been avoided" into your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were averted

Emphasizes the successful prevention of something negative from happening.

were prevented

Focuses on the action taken to stop something from occurring.

were evaded

Highlights the act of successfully escaping or dodging something.

were bypassed

Indicates that something was successfully circumvented or gone around.

were circumvented

Stresses the use of clever or strategic means to avoid something.

were steered clear of

Emphasizes a deliberate effort to avoid something problematic.

were kept at bay

Suggests that something undesirable was held off or prevented from approaching.

were mitigated

Focuses on reducing the severity or impact of something negative.

were neutralized

Highlights the act of rendering something harmless or ineffective.

were dodged

Emphasizes the quick and skillful avoidance of something.

FAQs

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

The phrase "have been avoided" indicates that something has been successfully prevented from happening. For example, "Many potential conflicts "have been avoided" through careful planning."

What are some alternatives to "have been avoided"?

You can use alternatives such as "were prevented", "were averted", or "were circumvented" depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey. Each alternative slightly shifts the emphasis on how the avoidance was achieved.

Is it better to use active or passive voice with "have been avoided"?

While "have been avoided" is grammatically correct, using the active voice can sometimes make your writing more direct and engaging. For instance, instead of "Mistakes "have been avoided"", you could say "We avoided mistakes".

Which is correct, "have been avoided" or "had been avoided"?

"Have been avoided" is used in the present perfect tense to describe something that has been avoided up to the present moment. "Had been avoided" is used in the past perfect tense to describe something that was avoided before a specific point in the past. Choose the tense that accurately reflects the timing of the avoidance.