keep away from

USAGE SUMMARY

'keep away from' is a valid expression in written English.
You can use it when you want to advise somebody to stay away from something or someone. For example: "Keep away from the dog, it looks angry."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Keep away from it.

The New York Times

Keep away from the edge".

The Guardian - Travel

Keep away from children and uninstructed persons.

The New York Times

Keep away from his power".

The New York Times

"I try to keep away from borrowing".

The Guardian - Money

Today I keep away from them".

The New York Times - Arts

Keep away from the crumbly cliff edge.

The Guardian - Travel

"I'm managing to keep away from knives.

The Guardian

Keep away from small children.

Forbes

Keep away from your fiancee.

Forbes

P210 Keep away from heat/sparks/open flames/hot surfaces.

Environmental Sciences Europe

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When providing safety instructions, use "keep away from" to clearly communicate the need for physical separation from potential hazards.

Common error

While "keep away from" is versatile, avoid overuse in very informal conversations. Simpler alternatives like "avoid" or "stay away" may sound more natural.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "keep away from" functions primarily as a phrasal verb, providing a directive to avoid or maintain distance from something. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. Examples from Ludwig illustrate its use in various contexts, such as avoiding danger or harmful substances.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Wiki

34%

News & Media

28%

Science

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Academia

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "keep away from" is a very common and grammatically sound phrasal verb used to advise or warn someone to avoid something. Ludwig AI confirms this phrase's validity. It's versatile, appearing in contexts ranging from everyday instructions to news reports, but is especially frequent in Wiki and News & Media sources. While generally neutral, it leans towards informal, and overuse in very informal contexts should be avoided. Consider alternatives like "stay clear of" or simply "avoid" to vary your language.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

stay away from

Simple rephrasing with "stay" instead of "keep".

stay clear of

Replaces "keep" with "stay" and "away from" with "clear of", slightly altering the idiom.

keep one's distance from

More formal and emphasizes maintaining physical or emotional separation.

steer clear of

Uses "steer" to imply a deliberate change in direction to avoid something.

avoid

A more concise synonym, focusing on the act of evasion.

evade

Implies escaping or dodging something, often with cunning.

remain distant from

Focuses on maintaining a state of being apart.

shun

Suggests a deliberate and often social avoidance of someone or something.

hold aloof from

Implies a sense of superiority or detachment in avoiding something.

abstain from

Suggests refraining from something, often for moral or health reasons.

FAQs

How can I use "keep away from" in a sentence?

You can use "keep away from" to advise someone to avoid something, as in "keep away from the edge" or "keep away from strangers".

What's a more formal way to say "keep away from"?

For a more formal tone, consider using "maintain distance from" or "remain distant from" depending on the context.

Is there a difference between "keep away from" and "stay away from"?

The phrases "keep away from" and "stay away from" are largely interchangeable. Both advise maintaining distance, with little practical difference in usage.

What can I say instead of "keep away from" in safety instructions?

In safety instructions, consider alternatives like "avoid", "steer clear of", or specifying the action to prevent, such as "do not approach".