it was avoidable

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was avoidable" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that a situation or outcome could have been prevented. Example: "The accident was tragic, but it was avoidable if proper safety measures had been followed."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

She said a review into the breach needs to establish whether it was avoidable.

The Guardian - Business

At the same time, it makes Jodie's death all the more tragic since it was avoidable".

The New York Times

"It was avoidable if Green and his family hadn't milked the company in the way they did.

The Guardian - Business

It was avoidable".

BBC

Nick Clegg said that he was "not sure it was avoidable" but that he had felt "pressure... to show that coalition government could work".

BBC

"I was disappointed with that goal as it was avoidable but I thought Jonjo's performance was good," said Monk. "I thought he put himself about, had good energy and he was possibly our best passer on the day.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

And it's avoidable.

The Guardian - Sport

But it is avoidable.

The Guardian - Tech

There's nothing to be said for drudgery, especially when it's avoidable.

The New York Times - Arts

We have been assuming throughout that an inequality in health is unjust only if it is avoidable.

SEP

Each operation is accompanied by the risk of the complications of surgery, not something anybody should have to face if it is avoidable.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it was avoidable" to underscore that negative outcomes stemmed from oversights or negligence, thus prompting reflection and preventative measures. For instance, in incident reports or post-mortems, highlight how specific actions could have altered the result.

Common error

Avoid using "it was avoidable" solely to assign blame without providing constructive analysis. Focus on identifying correctable processes or behaviors rather than simply pointing fingers. Blame without a proposed solution is often counterproductive.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was avoidable" serves as a declarative statement. It functions to express that a particular event or situation could have been prevented or averted. This is evident across various examples provided by Ludwig, highlighting its role in assessing past events and outcomes.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

46%

Science

34%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it was avoidable" is a declarative phrase used to express that a past event could have been prevented. Ludwig AI indicates that this phrase is grammatically correct and suitable for use across a range of contexts, especially in news, science, and general discussions. While not exceedingly common, the phrase serves an important function in highlighting missed opportunities for prevention and prompting reflection on past decisions. When using "it was avoidable", focus on offering constructive insights rather than simply assigning blame to maximize its utility in driving positive change.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it could have been prevented

Emphasizes the potential for prevention using "could have been".

it was preventable

Uses the adjective "preventable" directly expressing the capability of being prevented.

it didn't have to happen

Focuses on the unnecessary nature of the event.

it was not inevitable

Highlights that the outcome wasn't predetermined.

it could have been averted

Suggests the possibility of warding off the situation.

it was needless

Indicates the event was unnecessary and could have been skipped.

it was an unnecessary occurrence

More formally states the event was unneeded.

it was escapable

Focuses on the possibility of avoiding or escaping the outcome.

it was something that could be avoided

Explains directly that the event was capable of being avoided.

it was a situation that could have been dodged

Indicates a chance to evade the situation.

FAQs

How can I use "it was avoidable" in a sentence?

Use "it was avoidable" to indicate that a negative outcome could have been prevented with different actions or decisions. For instance: "The error was costly, but "it was avoidable" with better planning." or "The accident was tragic, but "it was avoidable" if safety protocols had been followed."

What phrases can I use instead of "it was avoidable"?

Alternatives to "it was avoidable" include "it could have been prevented", "it was preventable", or "it didn't have to happen", depending on the context and the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "it was avoidable" or "it could have been avoided"?

Both "it was avoidable" and "it could have been avoided" are grammatically correct and convey similar meanings. "It could have been avoided" emphasizes the possibility of prevention, while "it was avoidable" states it as a fact. The choice depends on the specific emphasis you want to achieve.

What is the difference between "it was avoidable" and "it was prevented"?

"It was avoidable" means something could have been prevented but wasn't, implying a failure or missed opportunity. "It was prevented" means something was successfully stopped from happening. For example, "The crisis "it was avoidable", but due to oversight, it escalated" versus "The crisis "it was prevented" through swift action".