in order to avoid having

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "in order to avoid having" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when explaining the purpose of an action taken to prevent a specific outcome or situation. Example: "She took extra precautions in order to avoid having any issues during the presentation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The company never patented WD-40, in order to avoid having to disclose the ingredients publicly.

The New York Times

I've also heard stories of female students taking the combined pill without a break, in order to avoid having periods.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Sometimes, when there was clearly nobody at home, I would just let the phone ring and ring in order to avoid having to call anybody else.

The New York Times

In a recent column, he described this legislative process as the "most popular form of political evasion... in order to avoid having to actually do anything".

The Guardian

The parents of two teenagers accused of killing two Dartmouth College professors are cooperating with investigators in order to avoid having to testify before a grand jury.

The New York Times

"We see a regime, in order to avoid having a statue taken down and destroyed by the people, decide to take it down themselves.

The New York Times

But it is challenging the ruling in order to avoid having other such restrictions placed on its content by other jurisdictions.

The Economist

The defense attorney David Rudolf said in his opening statement that Watkins killed Adams on his own, not because Carruth paid for a hit in order to avoid having to pay child support.

The New York Times - Sports

It hasn't been that many years since we'd routinely bring up a summer's supply of olive oil from New York, in order to avoid having to drive to Halifax, nearly two hours away, if we ran out.

The New Yorker

Republicans immediately seized upon these figures, attributing them to the imminent arrival of Obamacare, leading employers to shift workers from full-time to part-time in order to avoid having to give them health-care benefits.

The New Yorker

The two sides met today to discuss the possibility of an electoral way out of the crisis, a path the opposition wants in order to avoid having to wait until the next presidential election, in 2006.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "in order to avoid having", ensure the sentence clearly articulates the undesired outcome you are trying to prevent.

Common error

Avoid using "in order to avoid having" when a simpler construction is more direct. For example, instead of "They left early in order to avoid having traffic", use "They left early to avoid traffic."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in order to avoid having" functions as an adverbial phrase of purpose, indicating the reason why an action is taken. It introduces a clause that explains the intended outcome of preventing something from occurring, as confirmed by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

38%

Wiki

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "in order to avoid having" is a purpose connector used to articulate the reason for a specific action. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and very common, especially in News & Media and Science. When writing, ensure you clearly articulate the undesired outcome you're preventing. While effective, consider simpler alternatives like "to avoid" for less formal contexts. The phrase adds clarity and purpose to your writing, but avoid redundancy by choosing the most direct phrasing when possible.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

so as to not have

Replaces "in order to" with "so as to", slightly more formal.

to prevent having

Uses "to prevent" for a more direct statement of purpose.

for the purpose of not having

More formal and explicit.

with the intention of not having

More verbose, emphasizes intent.

in an effort to not have

Highlights the exertion of effort.

with a view to preventing

Focuses on a proactive perspective.

to sidestep having

Suggests skillful avoidance.

for fear of having

Emphasizes the element of fear or concern.

to circumvent having

Implies clever maneuvering to avoid something.

lest one have

Formal and somewhat archaic.

FAQs

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

You can use "in order to avoid having" to express the reason for taking a certain action to prevent an unwanted outcome. For example: "She saved money "in order to avoid having" to borrow in the future."

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

Alternatives include "to prevent having", "so as to not have", or "for fear of having", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it redundant to use "in order to" with "avoid having"?

While "to avoid having" is often sufficient, "in order to avoid having" emphasizes the purposefulness of the action taken for avoidance. The best choice depends on the desired level of emphasis.

What is the register of "in order to avoid having"?

"In order to avoid having" is generally considered neutral to formal. Simpler alternatives like "to avoid" might be preferred in very informal contexts, but the complete phrase is appropriate for most writing and speaking situations.