resist having to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "resist having to" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when expressing a reluctance or unwillingness to do something that is required or expected. Example: "I often find myself trying to resist having to attend meetings that seem unnecessary."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Bono cited the legal battle from the American Petroleum Industry to resist having to disclose payments to foreign governments (details here).

The Guardian - Business

Parents tend to resist having to pay for another mobile-phone account.

Forbes

House Speaker John A. Boehner outlined the offer as a last-ditch effort to resist having to stomach the bipartisan compromise emerging from the Senate.

Los Angeles Times

The violence and mind-bending risk of tackle football remains; the more egregiously life-threatening stuff can theoretically be regulated, but owners will resist having to pay for it and sport pundits with no risk of brain-scrambling injuries at their day gigs will cry fat tears about the feminizing of the game.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Many of them, he said, were older employees who have also resisted having to learn to use a laptop.

The New York Times - Tech

Rising economies such as China and India resisted having to curb their emissions unless they saw even deeper cuts from the US and rich countries.

The Guardian

On the one hand, people wanting to resist have started to look to existing extra-parliamentary organizations with a resistance agenda, like Greenpeace, for example.

Huffington Post

He cannot resist having several drinks to further his enjoyment.

The New Yorker

But the Gore campaign is likely to resist having the two men campaign side by side.

The New York Times

Watch this and try to resist having a cigarette.

Vice

Similarly, ZEP resist has ARs limited to 4 1 at 20 keV [6] and to 7 1 at 100 keV [7], albeit with over three times higher sensitivity than PMMA.

Nanoscale Research Letters

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "resist having to" when you want to express a conscious effort to avoid a situation or action that is perceived as undesirable or burdensome. It implies a degree of reluctance and active opposition.

Common error

Avoid using "resist having to" when a simpler verb like "avoid" or "decline" would suffice. Overusing this phrase in straightforward situations can make your writing sound unnecessarily complex.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "resist having to" functions as a verb phrase expressing a reluctance or active opposition towards an obligation or necessity. It indicates a conscious effort to avoid something, as confirmed by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "resist having to" expresses reluctance or active opposition towards an obligation. Ludwig AI confirms it is grammatically correct. It appears most frequently in news and media contexts, suggesting a neutral to formal register. While the phrase is valid, consider simpler alternatives like "avoid having to" for direct avoidance. The term suggests conscious effort against something unwanted.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

avoid having to

Direct synonym indicating an action taken to prevent a necessity.

refrain from having to

Adds a sense of deliberate self-control in avoiding something.

struggle against having to

Highlights the difficulty or effort involved in resisting.

fight the urge to have to

Emphasizes an internal battle against a compelling need.

be reluctant to have to

Focuses on the feeling of unwillingness towards an obligation.

be averse to having to

Indicates a strong dislike or opposition to the necessity.

decline to have to

A more formal way of refusing an obligation.

reject the need to

Denies the validity or acceptance of an obligation.

evade having to

Implies skillfully escaping or avoiding an obligation.

shirk having to

Suggests neglecting or avoiding a duty or responsibility.

FAQs

How can I use "resist having to" in a sentence?

You can use "resist having to" to indicate a struggle against an unwanted obligation. For example, "I often find myself trying to resist having to attend meetings that seem unnecessary."

What are some alternatives to "resist having to"?

Alternatives include "avoid having to", "refrain from having to", or "struggle against having to" depending on the context.

Is it always appropriate to use "resist having to"?

While grammatically correct, "resist having to" is best used when there's a sense of reluctance or effort in avoiding something. Simpler alternatives like "avoid to" may be more suitable in straightforward situations.

What is the difference between "resist having to" and "avoid having to"?

"Resist having to" implies a more active and conscious effort to oppose or prevent something, whereas "avoid having to" suggests a simpler act of preventing something from happening.