prevent doing

USAGE SUMMARY

"prevent doing" is correct and can be used in written English.
"Prevent doing" is a phrasal verb which expresses that one is stopping or avoiding taking an action in order to achieve a desired outcome. For example, "We should prevent doing anything too rash until we understand the situation better."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

Congress has already created two limited single-payer systems — Medicare and the veterans' health system — and no legal barriers prevent doing more.

The New York Times

And one of the ways they're able to maintain the human capital and social capital they build is to prevent doing some bad things in downturns.

Harvard Business Review

Now-a-days, we arm ourselves with an arsenal of navigational tools to prevent doing just that.

BBC

The majority of those who replied affirmatively were between 18 and 29 and 45 and 60, a trend that points to the difficulty of scheduling time-intensive vacations when work or family obligations might prevent doing so.

Forbes

It is often argued that it is unfair to bring a child with a disability into the world if we can prevent doing so (i.e. Savulescu 2001, Davis 2001).

SEP

You have to adjust your bathing habits accordingly". And not only that, but you may have to adjust your bathing habits to prevent doing damage to your hair as well.

HuffPost

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

If the replay is prevented does it hurt their performance?

The New York Times - Science

An exposure prevented does not minimize the impact of another exposure that exists.

Globalization and Health

As a result, the incremental cost per case of active TB prevented did not dramatically change.

BMC Pulmonary Medicine

Regulation cannot prevent people doing bad things.

The Guardian

"We would be prevented from doing so; we are prevented from doing so".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "prevent doing" when you want to clearly state that an action is being stopped or avoided to achieve a specific outcome. It is most effective when the action being prevented is clearly defined.

Common error

Avoid assuming that "prevent doing" implies a guaranteed outcome. While it indicates an effort to stop something, external factors might still lead to the undesired result despite the preventive action.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "prevent doing" functions as a verb phrase indicating the act of stopping or hindering an action. Ludwig AI indicates it's grammatically correct and can be used in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "prevent doing" is a grammatically correct and functional phrase used to express the act of stopping or avoiding a particular action. Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability in written English. While it appears across various registers, it is most commonly found in News & Media and Science contexts. When choosing an alternative, consider factors like formality and emphasis. Examples show the expression's application across various themes.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

avert doing

Replaces "prevent" with a synonym, maintaining the structure.

avoid carrying out

Substitutes "doing" with "carrying out", altering the action's description.

refrain from doing

Uses a more formal phrasing with "refrain from".

desist from doing

Employs "desist" which is a less common but similar verb.

stop oneself from doing

Adds emphasis on self-control to halt an action.

hinder the doing of

Transforms the phrase to be more passive and formal.

impede doing

Replaces "prevent" with "impede" implying a slowing down rather than a complete stop.

block the execution of

Focuses on blocking the "execution" or the action emphasizing its completion.

preclude the act of doing

A more formal and emphatic way of saying that something is impossible.

ward off doing

Implies actively defending against something before it occurs.

FAQs

How do you use "prevent doing" in a sentence?

You can use "prevent doing" to indicate stopping or avoiding an action, for example, "We should "prevent doing" anything drastic until we have more information."

What's a more formal alternative to "prevent doing"?

More formal alternatives include "refrain from doing" or "desist from doing". These options are suitable for academic or professional writing.

Is it always necessary to use "prevent doing", or are simpler options available?

Simpler options like "avoid doing" or "stop doing" can often be used, depending on the context. The best choice depends on the desired level of formality and emphasis.

How does "prevent doing" differ from "prevent from doing"?

"Prevent from doing" is more common and often considered more grammatically correct by some style guides. However, "prevent doing" is also acceptable and used in published writing, though perhaps slightly less frequently.