prevent each other

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "prevent each other" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where two or more parties take actions that hinder or stop one another from achieving a goal. Example: "In a competitive environment, teams may inadvertently prevent each other from reaching their full potential."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

Companies actually prevent each other from gaining too much power, and also act as a check on the power of governments that would otherwise be running the economy.

The Economist

Most of the first half of "Guilty Victim" is devoted to the diplomatic complexities by which East and West sought to prevent each other from exploiting Austria's strategic location for their own ends.

The Economist

After consulting our savings, kept in battered envelopes in topnotch hiding places around the house to prevent each other from skimming some off the top, Reggie and I had decided that it would be best if we shared a BB pistol, with one of us borrowing Randy's spare for the fight itself.

The New Yorker

These coordinated transmitters prevent each other from concurrent transmissions, resulting in negligible packet collisions.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Recall that senders are queried in a different order for each price so they cannot prevent each other from being served by providing false served_SS_new and D new information.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

According to Van Eemeren and Grootendorst 1992, an instance of ad hominem is a violation of the first rule for critical discussion, which maintains that "Parties [to a dispute] must not prevent each other from advancing standpoints or casting doubts on arguments".

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

Perhaps the best we can hope for, in the short and medium term, are incremental improvements and competition from huge enterprises and industries, preventing each other from absolute control.

The Guardian - Opinion

However, Reidar Visser, a Norwegian who has mastered the mathematical minutiae of Iraqi electoral politics, calculates that Mr Maliki might narrow the gap in parliament by only a seat.What is most gloomily clear is that if Messrs Maliki and Allawi remain set on preventing each other from becoming prime minister, Iraq could slip back into sectarian division and violence.

The Economist

The latter is called worker policing, and it could take the form of workers destroying each other's eggs, or of workers preventing each other from becoming reproductively active.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

Yet the commitments, for all their weakness, serve a crucial function: They prevent each side from using the other as a foil to justify inaction.

The New Yorker

The new ruling from Brussels" — the lair of Lucifer, in the eyes of the Times — "is to keep pigs happy and prevent them chewing each other".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "prevent each other", ensure the context clearly indicates the parties involved and the specific actions being prevented. Specificity enhances clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "prevent each other" in overly broad contexts. Instead of saying, "Regulations prevent each other from succeeding," specify which regulations are hindering which others and how.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "prevent each other" functions as a verb phrase, indicating a reciprocal action where two or more entities impede or stop one another from achieving a goal or performing an action. As Ludwig AI suggests, it describes mutual hindrance.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

50%

Wiki

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "prevent each other" is a grammatically sound verb phrase used to describe mutual hindrance or obstruction. Ludwig AI indicates its correctness and usability in written English. While not exceedingly common, it finds application across varied contexts including news, science, and general informational content. When employing this phrase, clarity and specificity regarding the involved parties and hindered actions are crucial for effective communication. Alternatives such as "hinder one another" or "impede one another" offer similar meanings with slight variations in emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hinder one another

Replaces "prevent" with "hinder", emphasizing the act of making something difficult.

impede one another

Uses "impede" instead of "prevent", suggesting a more significant obstruction.

obstruct one another

Similar to "impede", indicating a blockage or barrier.

thwart each other

Suggests active opposition leading to prevention.

counteract each other

Focuses on actions that neutralize or negate each other's effects.

neutralize each other

Emphasizes the canceling out of effects.

block one another

A more direct and simpler way of expressing prevention through physical or figurative barriers.

stop one another

A basic and straightforward alternative to "prevent".

inhibit each other

Replaces "prevent" with "inhibit", focusing on slowing down or restricting.

avoid collisions with each other

Specific to preventing physical contact or conflicts.

FAQs

How can I use "prevent each other" in a sentence?

Use "prevent each other" to describe situations where two or more entities are hindering each other's progress or actions. For example, "The two companies' conflicting strategies "prevent each other" from achieving their goals".

What are some alternatives to saying "prevent each other"?

You can use alternatives such as "hinder one another", "impede one another", or "obstruct one another" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it more formal to say "prevent each other" or "hinder each other"?

"Prevent each other" and "hinder each other" are generally interchangeable in terms of formality. The choice often depends on the specific context and the desired tone, with "hinder" possibly sounding slightly more formal in some cases.

What's the difference between "prevent each other" and "protect each other"?

"Prevent each other" implies actions that stop mutual progress or actions, while "protect each other" suggests actions that safeguard against harm or danger. They are opposite in their intent and effect.