prevent from

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "prevent from" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express that something prevents someone or something from doing something else. For example, "The city put in place measures to prevent people from gathering together in large groups."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Then, at the later curing stage, MWCNTs prevent from the occurrence of vitrification.

Carbon

Mr. Tierney doesn't mention those doctors, whom the D.E.A. must prevent from doing harm.

The New York Times

The worse accidents we will prevent from happening are 20, 30, 40 years from now.

The Guardian

There is no group in society that we try to prevent from having children".

The Guardian

My parents told us to avoid boys to prevent from getting pregnant.

The Guardian

Experimental results indicate that the model can prevent from the malicious attacks better.

The Journal of China Universities of Posts and Telecommunications

Both the kinematic controller and the adaptive controller are designed to prevent from command saturation.

Mechatronics

Absent any defendants to prevent from escaping, the guards eyed the reporters and camera crews warily.

The New York Times

This environment is what we must continuously work to prevent from ever surfacing again.

The New York Times

Combined prophylaxis could prevent from developing pulmonary embolisms [14].

JA Clinical Reports

The nanoindentations were sufficiently spaced to prevent from mutual interactions.

Nanoscale Research Letters

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "prevent from", ensure the sentence clearly indicates what action or outcome is being prevented. Clarity is key to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "prevent from" when a simpler verb like "prevent" can suffice. Sometimes, the "from" is unnecessary and clutters the sentence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "prevent from" functions as a prepositional phrase that typically follows a verb. It serves to indicate the action or outcome that is being averted or stopped. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is grammatically sound and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

42%

News & Media

30%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "prevent from" is a versatile and grammatically sound construction used to express the act of stopping something from happening. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's widely used across various contexts, including science, news, and general writing. While alternatives like "avoid" or "stop from" exist, "prevent from" offers a specific nuance that emphasizes the action taken to avert a particular outcome. Be sure to clearly define what you're trying to "prevent from" occurring for maximum clarity and impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

stop from

This phrase offers a simpler and more direct way to convey the idea of preventing something.

avoid

This is a shorter and more direct way to express preventing something, focusing on staying away from it.

hinder

Focuses on impeding or obstructing something, rather than completely preventing it.

avert

This suggests turning away or preventing something bad from happening, often used for dangers or disasters.

deter

Implies discouraging someone from doing something through fear or doubt.

impede

Similar to 'hinder' and 'obstruct', suggesting a slowing down or hindering of progress.

preclude

Suggests making something impossible, a stronger form of prevention.

obstruct

Similar to 'hinder', it means to block or impede progress.

forestall

Implies acting in advance to prevent something from occurring.

block

Indicates a direct physical or metaphorical barrier to something.

FAQs

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

Use "prevent from" to show that something stops someone or something else from doing something. For example, "The new law will "deter" people "from" committing crimes".

What are some alternatives to "prevent from"?

You can use alternatives like "avoid", "stop from", or "hinder", depending on the context.

Is it always necessary to use "from" after "prevent"?

No, you can often use "prevent" directly followed by a noun or gerund. For instance, both "prevent crime" and "prevent from committing crimes" are correct, though they have slightly different nuances.

What's the difference between "prevent" and "avoid"?

"Prevent" implies stopping something from happening, while "avoid" means staying away from something to prevent it. You might "prevent" a fire with safety measures or "avoid" a fire by not playing with matches.