it guards against

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it guards against" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing measures or actions taken to prevent something undesirable from happening. Example: "The new security system is designed to guard against unauthorized access to sensitive information."

✓ Grammatically correct

Health

Security

Finance

Politics

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

It guards against heart disease, eases existing heart disease, improves blood pressure and cholesterol, and keeps arteries flexible.

Harvard University

The site says it guards against malicious or fraudulent campaigns in various ways, like limiting the number of check-ins daily from the same phone.

The New York Times

This is the right instinct: It guards against law enforcement dragging people through the mud when prosecutors do not have enough evidence to charge them formally.

The Washington Post

A third reason mindfulness appears to cultivate empathy and compassion is that it guards against the feelings of stress and busyness that make us focus more on ourselves and less on the needs of other people.

University of California, Berkeley

It guards against maturity mismatches in foreign currency and it has long limited banks' foreign-exchange derivative bets.Mr Uribe is less convinced that capital controls can do much to affect the exchange rate.

The Economist

A paper ballot is better than a digital ballot with a physical paper trail, he told me, because it guards against sophisticated hackers making a voting machine record one vote but spit out a paper receipt for another.

The Washington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

Industry leaders denounced the regulatory regimen as biased and shortsighted, while advocacy groups said it guarded against predatory institutions taking advantage of vulnerable, low-income students.

The Washington Post

He led the heart 10, intending to run it, guarding against the possibility of a singleton nine in the West hand.

The New York Times - Arts

It's functional, too – the stand is angled well and the tablet remains accessible – and it adequately guards against the daily bumps and scrapes.

Independent

It also guards against a form of meningitis and blood poisoning.

BBC

It also "guards against negativity and helps create emotional stability".

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it guards against" to highlight a proactive measure taken to avoid a potential negative outcome, rather than simply describing a passive state of protection.

Common error

Avoid overstating the protective capabilities of something described with "it guards against". Be specific about what it protects against and acknowledge any limitations to prevent misleading readers.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it guards against" functions as a verb phrase, indicating a protective action or measure. Ludwig's examples show it describing mechanisms or actions preventing negative outcomes, highlighting its role in risk mitigation.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "it guards against" serves to indicate protection or prevention against a specific threat or undesirable outcome. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability in written English. While "it guards against" is not as common as "it protects against", it provides a nuanced way of describing a vigilant or proactive protective measure. Its usage spans various contexts, including news, academia, and science, indicating its versatility and reliability. When employing this phrase, clarity regarding the protective entity and the specific threat is crucial for effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it protects against

Replaces "guards" with "protects", offering a more straightforward and commonly used alternative.

it defends against

Substitutes "guards" with "defends", implying a more active role in preventing something.

it shields from

Replaces "guards against" with "shields from", suggesting a more comprehensive form of protection.

it safeguards against

Uses "safeguards" for a more emphatic and formal way of saying "guards against".

it wards off

Offers a more figurative and proactive take, implying averting something undesirable.

it averts

A more formal term, implying the deflection of a negative event or outcome.

it mitigates

Focuses on reducing the severity or impact of something negative.

it prevents

A simpler alternative that focuses on stopping something from happening.

it immunizes against

Implies a state of resistance or protection, often used in a medical or metaphorical context.

it secures from

Focuses on providing a sense of safety and protection from a potential threat.

FAQs

How can I use "it guards against" in a sentence?

Use "it guards against" to describe how something prevents or protects against a specific threat or negative outcome. For example, "The firewall "it guards against" unauthorized access to the network".

What are some alternatives to "it guards against"?

Some alternatives include "it protects against", "it defends against", or "it shields from", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "it guards against" formal or informal?

"It guards against" is generally considered neutral to slightly formal. Simpler alternatives like "it protects against" may be more appropriate for informal contexts.

What's the difference between "it guards against" and "it protects against"?

While similar, "it guards against" often implies a more vigilant and proactive approach to preventing something, while "it protects against" is a more general term for providing a barrier or defense.