shift away

USAGE SUMMARY

"shift away" is an acceptable phrase in written English.
It generally means to move away, or to change your focus. For example, "John shifted away from his negative thoughts and concentrated on the task at hand."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The shift away from Europe could be a wise strategy.

The New York Times

Such policies reinforced a shift away from assimilationist ideas.

Encyclopedia Britannica

And the attention is unlikely to shift away.

Independent

But even a shift away from authoritarianism did not help.

The New York Times

Yet can any Portuguese government shift away from austerity?

The Economist

But the shift away from hunting has other consequences, too.

The New York Times

"The shift away from nuclear worsens the situation," said Birol.

The Guardian

We have begun to shift away from cars.

The Guardian

The shift away from manufacturing is also a factor.

The New York Times

"Culturally there's been a shift away from single-sex education.

The Guardian

The shift away from teaching Tibetan has been especially contentious.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "shift away" to clearly indicate a change in direction, strategy, or focus. Ensure the context makes the subject of the shift and its destination clear.

Common error

Avoid using "shift away" when a simple "move" or "change" would suffice. "Shift away" implies a more deliberate or significant departure from something.

Linguistic Context

The phrasal verb "shift away" functions to indicate a movement or deviation from a particular state, focus, or direction. Ludwig's examples showcase its use in diverse contexts, from economic strategies to personal preferences. Ludwig AI indicates that this phrase is acceptable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "shift away" is a versatile phrasal verb used to describe a change in focus, direction, or strategy. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct and commonly used across various contexts, including news, science, and formal communications. The examples from Ludwig illustrate its application in describing transitions and deviations. When using this phrase, ensure the context clearly indicates what is being shifted away from and, if applicable, what it is being shifted towards.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

move away from

Focuses on the physical act of moving, implying a departure from something.

deviate from

Implies a departure from a standard or expected course of action.

diverge from

Suggests a branching out or separation from a common point.

turn away from

Emphasizes a conscious decision to reject or abandon something.

reorient

Highlights the act of changing direction or focus.

pivot from

Indicates a strategic change in direction, often in business contexts.

transition from

Focuses on the process of changing from one state to another.

depart from

A more formal way to express moving away from something.

abandon

Indicates a complete and intentional leaving of something.

relinquish

Suggests giving up or letting go of something, often with some reluctance.

FAQs

How to use "shift away" in a sentence?

You can use "shift away" to indicate a change in focus or direction, as in "The company decided to "shift away" from traditional marketing methods".

What can I say instead of "shift away"?

You can use alternatives like "move away from", "deviate from", or "diverge from" depending on the specific context.

Which is correct, "shift away from" or "shift away to"?

"Shift away from" is the more common and grammatically sound construction when indicating a departure. "Shift away to" implies a movement towards something different, which isn't the typical usage.

What's the difference between "shift away" and "change"?

"Shift away" implies a deliberate movement or deviation from a previous state or focus, while "change" is a more general term for any alteration.