preventing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "preventing" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing actions taken to stop something from happening or to hinder a process. Example: "The new policy is aimed at preventing fraud in the organization."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Opinion

Lifestyle

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The action plan cites climate change as "a key element of preventive diplomacy," aimed at preventing future violent conflicts through cooperation and dialogue.

The Guardian

Preventing moral certainty is as important a goal as preventing the suffering of creatures.

The Guardian - Opinion

"Rather than preventing that, it seems they have opted for making inequalities even greater," he said.

The Guardian

"We have a whole new generation that is interested in climate change", he said as he predicted that putting taxes on the use of carbon would trigger a wave of clean technology which would lift people out of poverty in the developing world while preventing the global temperature from rising by more than 2C above pre-industrial levels.

The Guardian

Yet nearly all advertising for sanitary products encourages us to hide this chunk of our lives – three thousand days for most women – by preventing leaks that might embarrass us and everyone else; by ensuring we don't, God forbid, smell of menstrual blood; by putting menstruation behind locked doors and safely enclosed in euphemism.

The Guardian - Opinion

Twitter has empowered feminists to monitor whether its own harassment policies are enforced – and to see whether the "uninhibited online speech" of one group is preventing the uninhibited online speech of another.

The Guardian - Opinion

The trouble with this is that it risks provoking the very sectarian conflict Sinn Féin (alongside others, including working-class loyalists) has been successfully preventing in flashpoint areas all around Belfast in recent years.

The Guardian

The Council of Europe has named it "the most effective tool for preventing and combating trafficking in human beings".

The Guardian - Opinion

In a letter sent to more than 1,000 Islamic leaders (pdf), Pickles stressed that he was proud of the way Muslims in Britain had responded to the Paris terror attacks, but added that there was "more work to do" in rooting out extremists and preventing young people being radicalised.

The Guardian

Who can I get advice from about preventing irritation to a scar on a two-hour run?

The Guardian - Lifestyle

At Homan Square, a nondescript warehouse on the city's west side, police arrest or detain people for hours without booking or otherwise posting public notifications of their whereabouts, preventing their relatives knowing where they are.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "preventing", ensure the sentence clearly indicates what is being prevented and the means by which it is being prevented. Strong verbs often pair well with "preventing" to enhance clarity and impact.

Common error

Avoid using "preventing" when a situation has already occurred. Prevention focuses on actions taken before an event, not after. Use terms like "mitigating" or "addressing" for post-event actions.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "preventing" is that of a present participle functioning as a verb, often used to describe an ongoing action aimed at stopping something undesirable. Ludwig AI affirms its grammatical correctness, as showcased in numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Opinion

20%

Lifestyle

10%

Less common in

Sport

8%

Politics

7%

Education

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "preventing" is a grammatically sound and frequently used verb form that describes the act of stopping something from happening. Ludwig AI confirms this with many examples. It is versatile enough for both formal and informal settings, though synonym choices may vary based on context. Predominantly found in "News & Media", "preventing" effectively conveys actions aimed at averting risks and unwanted processes. Remember to use "preventing" when discussing actions taken before an event and to select synonyms that align with the desired level of formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

stopping

A general term for halting or ceasing an action or event.

precluding

Implies making something impossible or excluding it entirely.

forestalling

Suggests taking action to prevent something from happening by dealing with it in advance.

averting

Focuses on actively turning away or warding off a potential negative outcome.

averting

Similar to averting, but emphasizes deflecting something dangerous or harmful.

avoiding

Emphasizes staying away from something to ensure it doesn't occur.

deterring

Highlights discouraging or dissuading someone from doing something.

blocking

Implies creating an obstacle or barrier to prevent something.

inhibiting

Focuses on slowing down or restricting a process or action.

obstructing

Focuses on hindering or impeding progress or action.

FAQs

How is "preventing" typically used in a sentence?

The word "preventing" is used as a present participle to describe an action that stops something from happening. For example: "The new policy is aimed at "preventing fraud" in the organization."

What are some alternatives to using "preventing"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "averting", "avoiding", "deterring", or "precluding".

Is it correct to use "preventing" in both formal and informal contexts?

Yes, "preventing" is appropriate in both formal and informal contexts. However, the choice of synonyms might vary depending on the formality of the situation. For instance, "forestalling" might be more suitable in formal writing than "stopping".

What is the difference between "preventing" and "avoiding"?

"Preventing" implies taking active measures to stop something from happening, while "avoiding" means steering clear of something to ensure it doesn't occur. "Preventing" often involves direct intervention, whereas "avoiding" is more about evasion or circumvention.