preventing us from

USAGE SUMMARY

"preventing us from" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are referring to something that has been kept from happening or stopped from continuing. For example: "The heavy snowfall is preventing us from going to the park today."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

What's preventing us from achieving this vision?

Princeton University

"It was preventing us from moving forward and expanding".

The New York Times

A: There is a court order preventing us from saying.

The Washington Post

"But I wouldn't count on that preventing us from developing".

The New York Times

"Your efforts had aimed at preventing us from become nuclear, but we did".

The Guardian

"If we published it online, what's preventing us from controlling that information and changing it?

The New York Times - Sports

Something we couldn't get hold of was preventing us from representing ourselves or defending our rights.

The Guardian - Opinion

That seemed to drag on too, like some final cruel ritual, preventing us from leaving.

The Guardian - Opinion

Swarms of mosquitoes descended on us that evening, preventing us from even thinking about sleep.

University of California, Berkeley

We'd like to get this good outcome but incentives are preventing us from getting there.

Yale University

This awesome topic is really helpful for preventing us from Nile virus.

Harvard University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "preventing us from", ensure that the subject clearly identifies what is causing the prevention and the object clearly indicates what action is being prevented. This enhances clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "preventing us from" in vague contexts where the reason for prevention is unclear. Always specify what or who is actively causing the prevention to maintain a clear and direct message.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "preventing us from" functions as a prepositional phrase that typically introduces a clause explaining the reason why an action or outcome is being hindered. As Ludwig confirms, this phrase is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

53%

Academia

21%

Science

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

9%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "preventing us from" is a grammatically correct and very common prepositional phrase used to indicate an obstacle or barrier that hinders a specific action or goal. Ludwig AI validates its correctness and broad applicability across diverse contexts. It's most frequently used in news and media, academia, and science. When using this phrase, ensure clarity by specifying the cause of the prevention. Alternatives like "stopping us from" or "keeping us from" may be used, depending on the nuance you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

stopping us from

Focuses more directly on the act of stopping, implying a more abrupt halt.

keeping us from

Emphasizes a continuous state of being prevented, suggesting an ongoing barrier.

prohibiting us from

Implies a formal or legal ban, suggesting a stronger and more official restriction.

hindering us from

Highlights the slowing down or making more difficult, rather than complete prevention.

impeding us from

Similar to hindering, suggesting obstruction of progress.

obstructing us from

Implies a physical or metaphorical barrier that blocks progress.

restricting us from

Indicates a limitation or constraint on actions or possibilities.

deterring us from

Suggests discouragement or dissuasion from taking a particular action.

discouraging us from

Similar to deterring, but emphasizes the negative impact on motivation or confidence.

making it impossible for us to

Highlights the absolute impossibility of something happening.

FAQs

How can I use "preventing us from" in a sentence?

Use "preventing us from" to describe a barrier or obstacle that is stopping you and others from achieving a specific goal or action. For example, "The bad weather is preventing us from going to the beach".

What are some alternatives to "preventing us from"?

You can use alternatives like "stopping us from", "keeping us from", or "prohibiting us from" depending on the context.

Is there a difference between "preventing us from" and "stopping us from"?

While both are similar, "preventing us from" implies a more proactive action to hinder something, whereas "stopping us from" suggests an immediate halt or cessation of an activity.

Can "preventing us from" be used in formal writing?

Yes, "preventing us from" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. However, in formal writing, consider stronger alternatives like "prohibiting us from" or "impeding us from" for a more authoritative tone.