returned to avoid

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "returned to avoid" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing an action taken to prevent a negative outcome or situation. Example: "He returned to avoid any further misunderstandings with his colleagues."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Some, like the town of Anadan, now contain only opposition fighters, but in others a handful of residents whose houses were not destroyed had returned to avoid the hardship of a Turkish refugee camp.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Cardinal Rodríguez also warned Mr. Zelaya not to return, to avoid bloodshed.

The New York Times

She attacked him early and often, accusing him of withholding his tax returns to avoid disclosing tax avoidance, conflicts of interest, or lack of charity.

Los Angeles Times

They ask customers to launder worn returns to avoid having to handle dirty clothing, but the item will have to be discarded.

The New York Times - Tech

Some clients turned to galleries for private sales, accepting lower returns to avoid the public embarrassment of selling off their collections.

Encyclopedia Britannica

So not everything goes back, and some things that do are presented as gifts, rather than returns, to avoid setting a dangerous precedent.

The New York Times - Arts

But a growing number are opting either for aggressive stock investments, in hopes of buying at low prices, or for guaranteed returns, to avoid the swooning market entirely.

The New York Times

"Year after year you filed false tax returns to avoid paying taxes; isn't that right?" a lawyer asked one borrower, who replied, "I would say it's sort of like that.

The New Yorker

At the second presidential debate in St Louis, Missouri, on Sunday night, Trump acknowledged that he used a $916m loss reported on his 1995 income tax returns to avoid paying personal federal US income taxes for years.

The Guardian

In June 2013, with an election looming and support for Labor plummeting, his backers called for a return to avoid defeat.

BBC

Telegraph systems were later to use earth return to avoid the need for a return wire, but this principle was not established at the time of Cooke and Wheatstone's telegraph.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "returned to avoid", ensure the context clearly indicates the specific negative outcome being prevented. This strengthens the sentence and makes it more informative.

Common error

Avoid structuring sentences with "returned to avoid" in a passive voice, which can obscure the actor and dilute the impact. Instead, emphasize who returned and what they were avoiding directly.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "returned to avoid" functions as a purpose connector, linking an action of returning with the intention of preventing something undesirable. As confirmed by Ludwig, this construction is grammatically sound and serves to explain the motivation behind the return.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Science

32%

Wiki

14%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

6%

Formal & Business

6%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "returned to avoid" serves as a purpose connector, illustrating the intention behind a return action, as confirmed by Ludwig. While grammatically correct and versatile, it is best used with a clear indication of the negative outcome being prevented. Ludwig's analysis of examples shows its presence across various sources, making it suitable for most writing scenarios. While not excessively formal, its neutral register ensures it's appropriate for professional communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

went back to prevent

Replaces "returned" with "went back" and "avoid" with "prevent", emphasizing the action of preventing.

came back to evade

Substitutes "returned" with "came back" and "avoid" with "evade", highlighting the act of evading something.

retreated to avert

Uses "retreated" instead of "returned" implying a strategic withdrawal, and "avert" instead of "avoid", stressing the prevention of something.

withdrew to preclude

Replaces "returned" with "withdrew", suggesting a formal removal, and "avoid" with "preclude", indicating the aim to make something impossible.

backed away to steer clear of

Rephrases the action as "backed away", emphasizing caution, and replaces "avoid" with "steer clear of", conveying the intention to keep a safe distance.

went back in order to not encounter

Replaces "returned" with "went back", and "avoid" with a more verbose "in order to not encounter", making the purpose explicit.

made their way back to bypass

Rephrases "returned" as "made their way back" adding a sense of effort, and replaces "avoid" with "bypass", indicating a way of going around something.

had to circle back to circumvent

Uses "circle back" instead of "returned", implying a roundabout way, and replaces "avoid" with "circumvent", focusing on overcoming an obstacle.

went back to forestall

Similar meaning, but "forestall" is a slightly more formal synonym for "avoid".

reverted to dodge

"Reverted" and "dodge" are used to provide a different nuance to the return/avoid meaning.

FAQs

How can I use "returned to avoid" in a sentence?

You can use "returned to avoid" to describe an action taken to prevent a specific negative outcome. For example, "He "returned to avoid" any further misunderstandings".

What are some alternatives to "returned to avoid"?

Alternatives include "went back to prevent", "came back to evade", or "retreated to avert", each conveying a slightly different nuance.

Is "returned to avoid" formal or informal?

"Returned to avoid" can be used in both formal and informal contexts, depending on the surrounding language and the overall tone of the communication.

What is the difference between "returned to avoid" and "returned in order to avoid"?

"Returned to avoid" is a more concise way of saying "returned in order to avoid". The latter is more explicit about the purpose of the return, but the former is often preferred for its brevity and directness.