he avoided her

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "he avoided her" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation where a person intentionally keeps their distance from another person, either physically or emotionally. Example: "After their argument, he avoided her at all costs, choosing to spend time with friends instead."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

He avoided her.

The New York Times

He avoided her eye.

The New Yorker

He avoided her eyes, but felt them anyway.

The New Yorker

Since he avoided her bed, she took lovers, but only one a month and strictly in hopes of getting pregnant.

The New York Times - Books

How he avoided her, accused her of being with other men, muttered that he'd like to kill her.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

That evening, the phone rings, and Angel calls to him, "Dad?" When Amadeo comes out of his room, his pulse throbs in his neck, and he avoids her eyes as he takes the phone.

The New Yorker

In 1951, he married Susan Kilner, a fellow undergraduate who was expecting his child; afterwards, he studiously avoided her, and they were divorced in 1957.

The Guardian

The train continued its halting progress up the bank of the river, and Blake tried to force himself to make some plans for escape, but the immediate threat to his life made this difficult, and instead of planning sensibly, he thought of the many ways in which he could have avoided her in the first place.

The New Yorker

He admits that he had seen and avoided her.

The New Yorker

Therefore, if an arrested client continued patronizing unabated after arrest, recognized a decoy working a subsequent sting, and consequently avoided her, he would be, on average, 13 20% less likely to be rearrested during the first year after his initial arrest than if he had not recognized the decoy.

Plosone

On a trip to Charleston, he avoided meeting her, but saw her on television.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "he avoided her" to clearly and concisely describe someone's intentional effort to keep away from a particular woman, whether physically, emotionally, or socially. Ensure the context clarifies the reason for the avoidance to enhance understanding.

Common error

While grammatically correct, frequent use of passive constructions can weaken your writing. Instead of saying, "she was avoided by him", use the active voice: "he avoided her" for a more direct and impactful statement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he avoided her" functions as a declarative statement. It typically serves to describe an action or behavior where a male subject intentionally kept away from a female object. Ludwig AI shows numerous examples in news and media, demonstrating its common usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "he avoided her" is a grammatically sound and readily understandable expression used to depict a male figure intentionally maintaining distance from a female figure. Ludwig AI confirms its common usage, particularly in news and media contexts. While the phrase itself is neutral in tone, the surrounding context will often shed light on the motivations behind the avoidance. For alternatives, consider phrases like "he stayed away from her" or "he kept his distance from her" to convey similar meanings with slight variations in emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he stayed away from her

Focuses on maintaining physical distance.

he kept his distance from her

Emphasizes maintaining separation, both physically and emotionally.

he steered clear of her

Suggests a deliberate effort to avoid contact.

he evaded her

Highlights the act of dodging or escaping her presence.

he gave her a wide berth

Implies creating ample space to avoid encountering her.

he shunned her

Indicates a deliberate and often public act of avoidance.

he ignored her

Focuses on a lack of acknowledgement or communication.

he kept out of her way

Emphasizes avoiding any potential interaction or conflict.

he circumvented her

Suggests finding a way around her, often indirectly.

he gave her the cold shoulder

Indicates a deliberately unfriendly and dismissive attitude.

FAQs

What does it mean when someone says "he avoided her"?

It means that a male person intentionally kept away from a female person, either physically, verbally, or emotionally. The reasons can vary from discomfort, dislike, fear, or strategic choices.

What are some alternatives to saying "he avoided her"?

You can use alternatives like "he stayed away from her", "he kept his distance from her", or "he steered clear of her" depending on the specific context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "he avoided her"?

Yes, "he avoided her" is grammatically correct. It follows the standard subject-verb-object structure in English.

What is the difference between "he avoided her" and "he ignored her"?

"He avoided her" implies a deliberate attempt to stay away from someone, while "he ignored her" suggests a lack of acknowledgement or attention, even if they are in the same vicinity. Avoidance involves physical or social distancing, while ignoring is about disregarding someone's presence or communication.