lest that

USAGE SUMMARY

'lest that' is correct and usable in written English.
It is used for expressing a warning or a concern about a possible negative outcome. For example: You must be careful when crossing the street, lest that you get hit by a car.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Lest that is not ironic enough, given Desmond's newsroom history, it also states: "You must be respectful towards your colleagues".

The Guardian

"Lest that statement smack of bitterness, let me hasten to add that I'm not one bit ashamed of my reputation.

The New York Times - Magazine

Lest that seem too cruel to inflict on someone with a debilitating sleep disorder, Kirsty undergoes nine months of treatment first.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Lest that were enough, he's also a spokesman for online retailer Buy.com and spends much of his time perfecting his act on the road.

Forbes

How else to be?" Lest that sound contradictory — remember Adorno — it is also part of the point.

Los Angeles Times

Lest that destiny be doomed by inequality, it is time we do better by, and for, all Americans, not just some of them.

Huffington Post

Lest that nice Republican go off the proverbial reservation, there is a ready-made prophylactic that can be stated in these simple words: "Don't be a sissy". This prophylactic is built into Republicans definitions of masculinity.

HuffPost

Although Lanzkron is not currently in a lab, lest that period of stability suddenly end, she's worked in several over the course of her three years at MIT.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

However, they are resisting tough action over its abuses lest that set an uncomfortable precedent over their own human-rights failings.

The Economist

Many city workers are fearful — and many spoke about it on the condition their names not be used, lest that put them higher on the layoff list.

The New York Times

But lest that confuse our feelings about her, we learned in a passing bit of dialogue that the Taiwanese killer had been apprehended at O'Hare anyway.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "lest that" to introduce a clause expressing a reason for avoiding an action, emphasizing the undesirable consequence you wish to prevent. For example: "They stayed silent, "lest that" their words be misconstrued".

Common error

Avoid using "lest that" in informal contexts or everyday conversations. It is better suited for formal writing and speeches where a sense of heightened caution or formality is desired.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lest that" functions as a subordinating conjunction, introducing a clause that expresses a reason for avoiding a certain action. It indicates a precautionary motive, as Ludwig AI confirms. The examples show it connecting ideas with a sense of potential negative consequence.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Academia

20%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "lest that" is a formal subordinating conjunction used to express a reason for avoiding an action, highlighting a potential negative consequence. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage for expressing a warning or concern. It is most commonly found in news and academic writing. When using "lest that", ensure your writing maintains a formal tone. While grammatically sound, consider the context to avoid sounding overly formal or archaic. Alternatives include "for fear that", "in order to avoid", and "so as not to", providing options for varying your expression. Though "lest that" is widely used across numerous sources, being mindful of the intended audience is an element to improve your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

for fear that

This alternative uses "for fear that" to convey the same sense of avoiding a potential negative outcome.

for the purpose of avoiding

This phrase is a more formal and emphatic way of expressing the intention to avoid something.

so as not to

This option uses "so as not to" to highlight the purpose of preventing a specific result.

with the intention of preventing

This alternative stresses the deliberate intent to prevent a specific outcome.

in order to avoid

This alternative shifts the focus to the intention of avoiding something, rather than the potential consequence.

to guard against

This phrase focuses on taking protective measures to avoid a potential negative outcome.

to prevent

This alternative directly emphasizes the act of prevention.

in the hope of averting

This option introduces the element of hope in preventing something negative.

in anticipation of preventing

This alternative emphasizes proactive prevention based on expectation.

to preclude the possibility of

This phrase is a more formal and sophisticated way of expressing the desire to avoid a specific outcome.

FAQs

How to use "lest that" in a sentence?

Use "lest that" to introduce a subordinate clause expressing a reason for avoiding a particular action. For example: "The general ordered a retreat, "lest that" his troops be surrounded".

What can I say instead of "lest that"?

You can use alternatives like "for fear that", "in order to avoid", or "so as not to" depending on the context.

What's the difference between "lest that" and "in case"?

"Lest that" implies a stronger sense of caution and a more formal tone than "in case". "Lest that" is used to avoid an undesirable outcome, while "in case" is a more general expression of preparedness.

Is "lest that" outdated?

"Lest that" is not outdated, but it is considered formal and somewhat archaic. While it's grammatically correct, its use might make your writing sound overly formal or old-fashioned in contemporary contexts.