in order to not offend

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "in order to not offend" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when explaining the reason for taking a particular action to avoid causing offense to someone. Example: "I chose my words carefully in order to not offend anyone during the discussion."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

"In order to not offend His Holiness, women must give birth and love".

The New York Times

QUESTION: Well, are you holding the report in order to not offend countries that might or might not be criticized in the report, so as not to offend any countries that you need for the coalition?

Yale University

Many suspect Facebook will soon start serving Sponsored Story ads in the mobile news feed, but it will have to limit their presence in order to not offend users.

TechCrunch

"The idea we are going to bridge our freedom, our most basic inalienable right in order to not offend savages, is egregious, it is outrageous," she told Fox News.

BBC

Indeed, corporations and government officials are going to outrageous lengths in order to not offend those who do not celebrate the holiday.

Huffington Post

Silverware may or may not be provided, and it is crucial that you know how to manage in order to not offend your hosts.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

In the current conditions, President Obama has two choices: First, he can continue to do what he has been doing-- monitoring" the situation or making passing andoing-- monitoringstatements on the behavior of the Iranian regime--in ordoing-- monitoringAhmadinejad, withewhom he hopesituationiploracy.

Huffington Post

Have fun! Remember to not offend anyone.

WikiHow

The images posted on the "Visualizing Cultures" Web site were not put there in order to offend.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

In order to avoid offending his mother, Anne of Austria, the king did not publicly acknowledge the liaison, and La Vallière was too dependent and lacking in self-confidence to assert her rights as official mistress.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Unenlightened people refuse to adjust their words or their actions in order not to give offense; vindictive ones seek out the company of unenlightened people in order to be offended at their lack of enlightenment.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for inclusivity, use "in order to not offend" to explain specific choices, such as using gender-neutral language or avoiding culturally sensitive topics in certain contexts.

Common error

Avoid constructing overly passive sentences with "in order to not offend". Instead of "Mistakes were avoided in order to not offend anyone", try "We avoided mistakes "to avoid offending anyone"".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in order to not offend" functions as an adverbial phrase of purpose, explaining the reason behind an action. It indicates that something is being done with the specific intention of avoiding causing offense. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically sound.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

16%

Academia

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

8%

Formal & Business

8%

Science

8%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "in order to not offend" serves as a purpose connector, used to explain why a certain action is taken. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is grammatically correct and aims to convey respect and consideration for others' feelings. While it appears most frequently in News & Media contexts, its utility spans across various communication scenarios where sensitivity is important. Alternatives like "so as not to offend" or "to avoid offending" offer more concise options, but the original phrase provides clarity when emphasizing intentionality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

so as not to offend

More concise and slightly more formal.

to avoid offending

Direct and commonly used alternative.

to prevent offense

Focuses on preventing the act of offending.

with the intention of not offending

More verbose, emphasizing intent.

in an effort to not offend

Highlights the attempt to avoid offense.

out of consideration for others' feelings

Emphasizes empathy and thoughtfulness.

being mindful of sensitivities

Focuses on being aware and careful.

to respect sensitivities

Highlights respect as the primary motivation.

so as not to cause upset

Focuses on avoiding emotional distress.

to tread lightly

Idiomatic expression meaning to be cautious and avoid causing trouble.

FAQs

How can I use "in order to not offend" in a sentence?

Use "in order to not offend" to explain the purpose behind a decision or action, such as, "I chose my words carefully "in order to not offend" anyone during the presentation".

What are some alternatives to saying "in order to not offend"?

You can use phrases like "so as not to offend", "to avoid offending", or "to prevent offense" as alternatives.

Is it better to use "in order to not offend" or "to avoid offending"?

Both "in order to not offend" and "to avoid offending" are grammatically correct, but "to avoid offending" is more concise. The best choice depends on the context and desired level of formality.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "in order to not offend"?

It is appropriate to use "in order to not offend" when you want to explicitly state that your intention is to avoid causing offense or upsetting someone, often in situations involving sensitive topics or diverse audiences.