prevent derailment

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "prevent derailment" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where you want to indicate the action of stopping something from going off course or failing, often in relation to projects, plans, or trains. Example: "To ensure the project's success, we must take proactive measures to prevent derailment at any stage."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

"The earthquake early warning system will enable BART to stop trains before earthquake shaking starts and thereby prevent derailment, and save passengers from potential injuries", said BART Board President John McPartland.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Trains could be stopped to prevent derailments, and gas supplies could be cut to avoid fires.

The New York Times

In Japan, they tell speeding bullet-trains to slow down in time to prevent derailments.

The Economist

It also presents an idealised view of childhood, in which unfettered and tenacious children, unencumbered by school and drawing only on their own resourcefulness, prevent derailments and set in motion the wheels that allow their falsely incarcerated father to return to the bosom of the family.

The Guardian

In the recently started European project "D-Rail - Development of the Future Rail Freight System to Reduce the Occurrences and Impact of Derailment" this methodology will be applied to identify failures in railway operation, which have to be monitored to prevent derailments.

European Transport Research Review

As the Examiner reports, "... by 2015, Metro expects that crews will have finished track work to fix safety problems dating back years, including the replacement of all track circuits and the addition of special rails to prevent derailments".

Huffington Post

Bank governor Atiur Rahman said the initiative aims to "prevent the derailment of street children through developing their financial position".

The Guardian

Dr. Hauser, for his part, cannot act publicly to prevent the derailment, at least for the moment, of his rising scientific career.

The New York Times - Science

The technology automatically stops a train to prevent a derailment or crash but it is in operation on only 45percentt of tracks owned by freight railroads and 24percentt of tracks owned by passenger railways.

Huffington Post

Railroads periodically inspect their rails using ultrasonic technologies to prevent train derailments, thereby mitigating transportation risk.

Journal of Loss Prevention in the Process Industries

In a move supported by fans of train fires everywhere, that department has quietly reversed an Obama-era rule requiring that trains carrying crude oil deploy, as Reuters reports, "an advanced braking system designed to prevent fiery derailments..

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "prevent derailment" in technical contexts, ensure that the specific mechanisms or actions being taken to prevent the derailment are clearly articulated to enhance clarity and impact.

Common error

Avoid using "prevent derailment" in contexts where the term "derailment" doesn't logically fit. Overusing metaphors can dilute their impact. Ensure the metaphor is appropriate and adds value to the communication.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "prevent derailment" functions as a purpose clause. It is typically used to express the reason or intention behind an action, as seen in the Ludwig examples where early warning systems and track maintenance are implemented to specifically prevent train derailments. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable form.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

30%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

"Prevent derailment" is a phrase used to describe the action of stopping something from going off course, often in a literal sense (trains) or a metaphorical sense (projects, plans). As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable. It functions as a purpose clause, highlighting actions taken to avoid potentially catastrophic outcomes. While found in various contexts, including news, science, and general discussions, it is less common in strictly formal or business settings. Alternatives include "avoid failure", "avert a derailment", and "stop a derailment". Remember to use this phrase judiciously, ensuring the "derailment" metaphor is appropriate to add clarity and impact to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

avert a derailment

Synonymous; "avert" simply replaces "prevent" with a near equivalent.

preclude a derailment

Synonymous; "preclude" simply replaces "prevent" with a near equivalent.

stop a derailment

Simplifies the phrase by using a more direct verb; emphasizes the act of stopping.

forestall a derailment

"Forestall" indicates acting in advance to prevent something, adding emphasis to proactive prevention.

avoid failure

This alternative focuses on sidestepping failure altogether. It's more general but shares the core idea of averting a negative outcome.

avoid a train accident

Narrows the context specifically to avoiding accidents related to train transportation instead of the concept of "derailment" in general.

keep on track

An idiomatic expression meaning to stay focused and avoid distractions; suitable in informal contexts.

stay the course

This suggests perseverance to avoid straying from the intended path; implies resilience against difficulties.

ensure project success

Shifts the focus to the positive outcome of success, rather than the negative of derailment. It refers to the result to be guaranteed.

maintain progress

Focuses on keeping things moving forward without interruption; suggests continuous effort to prevent setbacks.

FAQs

How can I use "prevent derailment" in a sentence?

You can use "prevent derailment" in sentences like: "The earthquake early warning system will enable BART to stop trains before earthquake shaking starts and thereby "prevent derailment"." It's often used in the context of trains but can be metaphorically applied to projects or plans to mean avoiding failure.

What can I say instead of "prevent derailment"?

You can use alternatives like "avoid failure", "avert a derailment", or "stop a derailment" depending on the specific context.

Is it appropriate to use "prevent derailment" in a business context?

Yes, "prevent derailment" can be used metaphorically in a business context to describe actions taken to ensure a project or plan stays on track and achieves its goals. However, ensure that the term is well-understood by your audience.

What's the difference between "prevent derailment" and "avoid a setback"?

"Prevent derailment" specifically implies stopping something from going off course, often suddenly and dramatically. "Avoid a setback" is more general and refers to preventing any kind of delay or problem that could hinder progress.