sake of prudence

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "sake of prudence" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to the practice of making careful decisions or taking precautions in order to avoid potential risks or negative consequences. For example: "John decided to use his savings for the sake of prudence and not take any risks with his income."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

For the sake of prudence, it seemed the station agent ought to know why I was about to go on the tracks.

The New York Times

"We're not outright closing the site down any time in the foreseeable future," Leto says in her post, "but, for the sake of prudence, we're encouraging our users to export their data here".

TechCrunch

For the sake of prudence, the observers ranked the images by choosing between three options: the quality of the left stereoscopic image is better (denoted by "left better"), the right stereoscopic image is better (denoted by "right better"), or the quality of two images is the same (denoted by "comparable").

EURASIP Journal on Image and Video Processing

Nick is on Twitter.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

As you plan, err on the side of prudence.

WikiHow

Beloved husband of Prudence (Linder).

The New York Times

These conditions instilled a sense of prudence.

The New York Times

Beloved husband of Prudence (nee Silecchia).

The New York Times

The Czech Republic would be a model of prudence.

The Economist

Most Asian economies have been models of prudence.

The Economist

REMEMBER when a bank manager was the epitome of prudence?

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "sake of prudence", ensure the context clearly indicates that the action is being taken to avoid potential negative consequences or to ensure a positive outcome through careful planning.

Common error

Don't confuse "sake of prudence" with simply being risk-averse. Prudence involves a balanced assessment of risks and benefits, not merely avoiding anything that seems remotely dangerous. Actions taken for the "sake of prudence" should reflect well-reasoned decisions, not knee-jerk reactions to uncertainty.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sake of prudence" functions primarily as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate the reason or motivation behind an action. Ludwig examples demonstrate its use to explain actions taken to avoid risks or ensure positive outcomes.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "sake of prudence" is a grammatically correct phrase used to justify actions based on careful consideration and avoidance of potential risks. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. While its occurrence is rare, it appears mainly in News & Media, Science and Wiki articles. When employing this phrase, ensure the context highlights the thoughtful and balanced nature of the decision, rather than simple risk aversion. Alternatives include "for the sake of caution" and "out of prudence", each with slightly different emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

for the sake of caution

Replaces "prudence" with "caution", focusing on avoiding risks.

for reasons of prudence

Emphasizes the rational justification for an action.

out of prudence

A more concise way of expressing the motivation.

as a matter of prudence

Highlights the action as a necessary or advisable precaution.

in the interest of prudence

Suggests acting in accordance with careful consideration.

for the sake of wisdom

Substitutes "prudence" with "wisdom", implying thoughtful decision-making.

for the sake of thoughtfulness

Replaces "prudence" with "thoughtfulness", focusing on consideration of the outcome.

for the sake of good judgment

Highlights the quality of decision-making involved.

to ensure safety

Shifts the focus to the outcome of avoiding harm.

with careful consideration

Emphasizes the deliberate nature of the action.

FAQs

How can I use "sake of prudence" in a sentence?

You can use "sake of prudence" to explain the reason behind a careful or cautious action. For example, "He saved a portion of his income for the "sake of prudence", anticipating future economic downturns".

What's the difference between "sake of prudence" and "sake of caution"?

"Sake of prudence" implies a more reasoned and thoughtful approach, weighing potential outcomes. "Sake of caution" focuses more on avoiding immediate risks, which could be interchangeable, but often implies taking some step back to think first. For example, a pilot might delay a flight for the "sake of caution" because of potentially unsafe weather conditions.

Are there situations where using "sake of prudence" might not be appropriate?

Using "sake of prudence" might sound overly formal or stilted in casual conversation. In those settings, simpler alternatives like "to be safe" or "just in case" might be more fitting.

What can I say instead of "sake of prudence"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "for reasons of prudence", "out of prudence", or "as a matter of prudence" to convey a similar meaning while varying your language.