sidestepping issues

USAGE SUMMARY

"sidestepping issues" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when discussing someone avoiding or evading certain topics or problems. For example: "During the meeting, he was sidestepping issues that needed to be addressed." Alternative expressions include "avoiding issues" and "dodging issues."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

And polite, too, was the Catalan's way of sidestepping issues over the personalities and players he has inherited and has yet to strike a rapport with.

The New York Times - Sports

Anthropomorphic dogs serve as protagonists instead of children, a strategy that works well since animal characters always expand the range of potential identification by sidestepping issues of race, age, looks and even gender.

The New York Times - Books

The advantages of the prospective mode are two-fold: 1) tissue collection procedures and reagents are optimized to the needs of the experiment, and 2) information that is shared across the network is limited to the tissue request, thus elegantly sidestepping issues associated with sharing tissue repository information that may contain protected donor information.

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

But the random selection of friends to show to users in the "social" message - some close friends, some only peripheral - should sidestep issues of homophily, Prof Fowler explained.

BBC

The use of HRBECs sidesteps issues of interspecies variation by testing cells from at-risk humans and bypasses issues of dose, route of delivery and metabolism by examining the effects of XE concentrations found in human tissues and body fluids (27, 28).

Carcinogenesis

If we do not carefully consider these issues, we are at the danger of giving our future healthcare professionals 'surface professionalism' which ' sidesteps issues of identity and treats professionalism as something physicians can put on and take off like one's stethoscope' [ 19].

BMC Medical Education

Certainly, sidestepping the issues will get us nothing.

The Guardian - Books

The economic focus helped Mr. Abe lead his party, the Liberal Democrats, to victory while sidestepping difficult issues like nuclear power.

The New York Times

Instead of just sidestepping the issue, you now have to issue a statement".

Huffington Post

If street crime can be policed or sidestepped, stadium issues are harder to brush aside.

Independent

In other words, he is sidestepping the issue of whether there should be a prosecution.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "sidestepping issues" when you want to convey a sense of tactful avoidance or strategic evasion of sensitive or problematic topics.

Common error

Avoid using "sidestepping issues" when the intent is to completely ignore or neglect a problem. "Sidestepping" implies a level of awareness and deliberate, though indirect, handling, whereas ignoring suggests a lack of attention altogether.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sidestepping issues" functions as a verbal phrase, often used as a gerund or participle. It describes the action of avoiding or evading certain topics or problems, as evidenced by Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "sidestepping issues" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe the act of avoiding or evading certain topics or problems. Ludwig AI indicates that it's commonly used in News & Media and Science contexts, suggesting a neutral register. While the phrase is correct and usable, remember that other alternatives, like "avoiding the subject" or "dodging the concerns", may be more appropriate depending on the specific context. Be mindful not to confuse "sidestepping" with completely ignoring a problem.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

avoiding the subject

Directly indicates steering clear of a particular topic of conversation.

ducking the question

Implies a quick or evasive movement to avoid answering a direct question.

dodging the concerns

Emphasizes avoiding direct engagement with specific concerns or worries.

skirting the problems

Implies moving along the edge of problems without directly addressing them.

evading the problems

Focuses on escaping or dodging problems rather than tactfully avoiding them.

bypassing the complications

Suggests ignoring or going around complex elements to simplify a situation.

circumventing the difficulties

Highlights finding a way around difficulties, often implying cleverness or strategy.

deflecting criticism

Focuses on redirecting or avoiding negative feedback or censure.

evading responsibility

Highlights avoiding accountability or blame for something.

shirking responsibilities

Suggests neglecting or failing to fulfill one's duties.

FAQs

How can I use "sidestepping issues" in a sentence?

You can use "sidestepping issues" to describe the act of avoiding or evading certain topics. For example, "The politician was accused of "sidestepping issues" during the debate".

What are some alternatives to "sidestepping issues"?

Alternatives include "avoiding the subject", "dodging the concerns", or "evading the problems", depending on the specific context.

Is "sidestepping issues" a formal or informal expression?

"Sidestepping issues" can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although it's more common in news reporting and professional discussions.

What's the difference between "sidestepping issues" and "ignoring issues"?

"Sidestepping issues" implies a deliberate attempt to avoid addressing a problem directly, while "ignoring issues" suggests a complete lack of attention or awareness. "Sidestepping issues" is a conscious action, whereas ignoring can be unintentional.