simply to avoid

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "simply to avoid" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when explaining a reason for taking a particular action to prevent something undesirable from happening. Example: "She decided to leave early, simply to avoid the heavy traffic."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Men stretch themselves today simply to avoid being sacked".

The New York Times

'Our goal was simply to avoid relegation,' Hopp says.

The Guardian - Sport

Surely it was wiser simply to avoid fats altogether?

The New Yorker

Their first target is simply to avoid relegation.

The Guardian - Sport

Even if later cleared, banks may cut some services simply to avoid the hassle.

The New York Times

In the view of Western experts, the Russians did well simply to avoid its breaking down.

The Economist

"It is not enough simply to avoid being found guilty of a crime," the policy states.

The New York Times - Sports

Wetside politicians may become a little more deferential to dryside needs simply to avoid appearing dictatorial.

The Economist

(The rule is meant to discourage companies from converting simply to avoid the tax).

The New York Times

In both cases, despite talk of "victory," the overriding imperative became simply to avoid defeat.

The Washington Post

It would be much easier simply to avoid all handshaking if the avian flu hits us.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "simply to avoid" when you want to clearly and directly state the reason for an action, emphasizing that avoidance is the primary motivation. It's useful for clarifying intentions and motivations in a straightforward manner.

Common error

While "simply to avoid" is a useful connector, overusing it can make your writing sound repetitive. Vary your sentence structure by using alternatives like "in order to prevent" or "just to prevent" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "simply to avoid" functions as an adverbial phrase of purpose, indicating the reason or intention behind an action. It clarifies that the action is taken with the primary goal of preventing something undesirable. As Ludwig AI states, the phrase is used to show the reason for taking a particular action to prevent something undesirable from happening.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

53%

Academia

22%

Science

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "simply to avoid" is a grammatically sound and very commonly used adverbial phrase indicating the purpose of preventing an undesirable outcome. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in written English. As demonstrated through numerous examples from diverse and authoritative sources like The New York Times, The Guardian, and academic institutions, its primary function is to clearly state the reason for an action, with avoidance as the central motivation. While versatile, it's advisable to vary sentence structure and consider synonyms to prevent repetition. Therefore, using it correctly will enhance clarity and directness in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

just to prevent

Emphasizes the direct intention to stop something from happening.

merely to evade

Uses "evade" which implies escaping something, suggesting a slightly more active avoidance than "avoid".

purely to steer clear of

More emphatic and suggests a desire to maintain distance from something.

with the aim of dodging

Implies quickness and agility in avoiding something.

solely for the purpose of avoiding

More formal and emphasizes the singular intention of avoidance.

precisely to bypass

Highlights the intention to find an alternative route to avoid something undesirable.

only to keep away from

Highlights the act of maintaining distance.

in order to circumvent

Implies skillful maneuvering to bypass a problem or obstacle.

if only to avert

Suggests a potential negative outcome that one is trying to prevent.

so as to preclude

Formal and suggests preventing something from even being possible.

FAQs

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

Use "simply to avoid" to connect an action with its purpose of preventing something undesirable. For instance, "She left early, simply to avoid the traffic."

What phrases can I use instead of "simply to avoid"?

You can use alternatives like "just to prevent", "in order to prevent", or "merely to evade depending on the context.

Is it okay to start a sentence with "simply to avoid"?

While grammatically correct, starting a sentence with "simply to avoid" is less common. It's generally better to place it within the sentence to maintain a smoother flow. For example: "They relocated the office, simply to avoid higher taxes" sounds better than "Simply to avoid higher taxes, they relocated the office".

What's the difference between "simply to avoid" and "in order to avoid"?

"Simply to avoid" emphasizes that avoidance is the sole or primary reason for an action. "In order to avoid" is more neutral and suggests avoidance as one of possibly several reasons. The phrase "simply to avoid" also implies that the reason is obvious or self-explanatory.