heaven forfend

USAGE SUMMARY

"heaven forfend" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is usually used in formal or literary contexts and means "may God forbid" or "let it never be so." It is typically used as an expression of hope or wish that something negative does not happen. Example: "Heaven forfend that our country should ever go to war again."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Bureaucrats, heaven forfend, are being made redundant.

The Economist

All those Irishmen, Italians, Jews and — heaven forfend!

The New York Times - Books

Otherwise, heaven forfend, they might suspect he is a charlatan.

The Guardian - Opinion

There was no chronology, of course – heaven forfend.

The Guardian - Arts

(And heaven forfend that Clive James should do it).

The Guardian

And also, heaven forfend, if you want to unsubscribe.

The Guardian - Sport

They cannot be as combative or, heaven forfend, emotional.

The New York Times

Heaven forfend, however, that the wheels should ever start to come loose.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

Time will tell, though I've certainly not seen any sign of damage or, heavens forfend, bending.

Independent

But I'm afraid those godawful jeans led to a crash on the ice and makes him look a bit of a – heavens forfend – cliché.

The Guardian - Sport

And God forfend that your souffle shouldn't rise!

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "heaven forfend" to add a touch of formality or archaism to your writing, particularly when expressing a strong wish to avoid something negative.

Common error

Avoid using "heaven forfend" too frequently, as its somewhat old-fashioned tone can become distracting or seem affected in modern writing. Use it sparingly for emphasis.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "heaven forfend" functions as an interjection, expressing a strong wish or hope that something undesirable will not occur. Ludwig's examples show it used to ward off potential negative outcomes.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "heaven forfend" is a grammatically correct interjection used to express a strong desire that something undesirable does not happen. Ludwig AI confirms this, stating it's typically used in formal or literary contexts. Its frequency is considered very common, appearing primarily in news and media sources. While effective for adding emphasis and a touch of archaism, overuse can make writing seem affected. Consider alternatives like "heaven forbid" or "God forbid" depending on the desired tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

heaven forbid

A more common and slightly less formal alternative to "heaven forfend".

God forbid

A very common alternative expressing the same sentiment.

perish the thought

A somewhat dramatic and emphatic way of expressing strong aversion.

may it never be

A more emphatic and dramatic way of expressing the same wish.

far be it from me

Expresses reluctance or disinclination towards something.

God save us

A more religious and urgent expression of hoping to avoid something bad.

lest that should occur

A more formal and literary way of saying "in order to prevent".

let's hope not

A less formal expression of wishing something doesn't happen.

I hope not

A simpler and more direct expression of the same sentiment.

if that should happen

Focuses on the hypothetical undesirable event itself.

FAQs

What does "heaven forfend" mean?

The phrase "heaven forfend" means "may God forbid" or "let it never be so". It's used to express a strong wish that something undesirable does not happen.

How can I use "heaven forfend" in a sentence?

You can use "heaven forfend" to express a wish that something never happens. For example, "Heaven forfend that our company should ever go bankrupt."

What can I say instead of "heaven forfend"?

You can use alternatives like "heaven forbid", "God forbid", or "perish the thought" depending on the context.

Is "heaven forfend" a common phrase?

While grammatically correct, "heaven forfend" is a somewhat archaic and formal phrase. As seen in Ludwig, it is used but less frequently than other alternatives like "heaven forbid" or "God forbid".