in order to avoid

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "in order to avoid" is a perfectly correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is often used to indicate the reason why a particular action is being taken or a particular choice was made. For example, "I chose to take the train instead of the plane in order to avoid the traffic."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

(c) avoid honking, in order to avoid disturbing residents.

The New Yorker

So, in order to avoid risks, I will take risks".

The Guardian - Sport

They are sowing confusion in order to avoid accountability.

The New York Times

The military stepped in in order to avoid violence".

The New York Times

This is crucial in order to avoid artificial mass transfer.

Chemical Engineering Science

In order to avoid this, passive filters are prominently used.

IFAC Proceedings Volumes

"He is doing what he must do in order to avoid being indicted.

The New York Times

Get your insurer's advice in order to avoid being left unprotected".

The Guardian - Money

"The institutional issue is often evoked in order to avoid making choices.

The Guardian

Abrahamson said he researched similar cases, in order to avoid any direct references in his film.

The Guardian - Film

The memorandum was not publicized in order to avoid alerting the men to their impending arrests.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "in order to avoid" when you want to clearly state the purpose of an action is to prevent a specific negative outcome. This adds clarity and intention to your writing.

Common error

While "in order to avoid" is grammatically correct, overuse can make your writing sound repetitive. Vary your sentence structure by using shorter synonyms like "to prevent" or restructuring the sentence entirely.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in order to avoid" functions as an adverbial phrase of purpose. It introduces a clause that explains the reason or intention behind an action, indicating what someone is trying to prevent from happening. Examples from Ludwig show its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Science

31%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "in order to avoid" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase to indicate the purpose of preventing a specific outcome. As confirmed by Ludwig, it's suitable across various writing contexts, though synonyms like "to prevent" may offer conciseness. With a neutral register and prevalent use in News & Media and Science publications, "in order to avoid" effectively conveys intention. While it is a very common phrase according to Ludwig's examples, be cautious of overuse to maintain writing clarity and variety. Utilizing alternatives, ensuring the phrase is appropriate, and crafting clear sentences contribute to best practices. Remember to state your case with concision and precision, and your writing will shine!

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

so as to avoid

A more formal synonym, maintaining a similar structure and meaning.

with the intention of avoiding

Similar to "for the purpose of avoiding" but with a slightly different emphasis.

for the purpose of avoiding

A more verbose alternative that explicitly states the intention.

to prevent

A shorter, more direct way to express the intention of preventing something.

to guard against

Suggests taking precautions to protect against something potentially harmful.

to preclude

Highlights the aim to make something impossible or prevent it from happening.

to steer clear of

Emphasizes the action of deliberately keeping away from something undesirable.

to evade

Focuses on escaping or eluding something, often with a sense of cunning.

to circumvent

Suggests finding a way around something, often a rule or obstacle.

to mitigate

Emphasizes reducing the severity or impact of something, rather than avoiding it altogether.

FAQs

How can I use "in order to avoid" in a sentence?

Use "in order to avoid" to explain the purpose of taking a specific action. For example, "I left early "in order to avoid" traffic."

What are some alternatives to "in order to avoid"?

You can use alternatives like "to prevent", "so as to avoid", or "to steer clear of" depending on the context.

Is it better to use "in order to avoid" or "to avoid"?

"To avoid" is generally more concise and suitable for most situations. "In order to avoid" can add emphasis when you want to highlight the purposefulness of the action.

What's the difference between "in order to avoid" and "in order to prevent the"?

"In order to prevent the" is used when you are preventing an event or action from occurring. While "in order to avoid" focuses on evading something that already exists. For example, "I locked the door "in order to prevent the" theft". Or, "I tiptoed "in order to avoid" waking her up".