so as not to repeat

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "so as not to repeat" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when you want to express the intention of avoiding repetition in actions or statements. Example: "I will change my approach so as not to repeat the mistakes of the past."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

The message was not made public, so as not to repeat the alleged insult, as is typical in such cases.

The New York Times

So as not to repeat errors of the past, the central committee has declared itself resolutely against the cult of the individual.

The Guardian

But this leaves open the question of the future institutional architecture of the eurozone, so as not to repeat the nightmare of the past year and a half.

The Guardian - Opinion

Committees were assembled to discuss the logistics of the undertaking and, so as not to repeat the dubious moral and legal conditions under which the conquests in the Americas had been conducted, to discover if this might count as a "just war".

The Guardian - Books

The rules are simple: Fill the grid with digits so as not to repeat a digit within any row or column, and so the digits within each heavily outlined box (called a cage) go together using the arithmetic operation shown to make the target number indicated.

The New York Times - Arts

This time President-elect Barack Obama is letting lawmakers take the lead so as not to repeat the mistake that botched President Clinton's attempt at reform in 1993.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

"And you've always been so careful not to repeat yourself, Carole".

The New York Times - Magazine

"So, they learned not to repeat their previous mistakes".

The New York Times

"I'm worried not so much about people forgetting as about trying not to repeat," she said.

The New York Times - Arts

As such, it is important not to repeat recent errors.

The Guardian

Try not to repeat yourself.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "so as not to repeat" to clearly indicate your intention to avoid redundancy, especially when explaining a decision or action taken to prevent something from happening again.

Common error

While grammatically correct, "so as not to repeat" can sound overly formal in casual conversation. Opt for simpler alternatives like "to avoid repeating" or "so I don't repeat" in informal settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "so as not to repeat" functions as an adverbial phrase of purpose, indicating the reason or intention behind an action. Ludwig's examples show it introduces a clause that explains why something is being done to prevent a recurrence.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Science

33%

Wiki

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

11%

Reference

3%

Encyclopedias

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "so as not to repeat" is a grammatically correct and commonly used construction to express the intention of avoiding repetition. As Ludwig AI confirms, it effectively indicates the purpose behind an action, aiming to prevent a recurrence of a previous event, mistake, or situation. While suitable for various contexts, it is generally more formal and frequently appears in news, scientific writing, and professional communication. In more casual settings, consider using simpler alternatives like "to avoid repeating". To ensure clarity and precision, use it to explicitly state your purpose of preventing something from happening again.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in order not to repeat

Slightly more formal alternative, using "in order" instead of "so as".

so that we do not repeat

Similar in meaning but uses a more common sentence structure.

to avoid repeating

A more concise and direct way of expressing the same intention.

in an effort to not repeat

Emphasizes the effort being made to avoid repetition.

to prevent recurrence of

Focuses on preventing the recurrence of something specific, often negative.

with the aim of not repeating

Highlights the specific aim or goal of avoiding repetition.

lest we repeat

A more literary and cautionary way of expressing the need to avoid repetition.

with the intention of preventing repetition

Similar to 'with the aim of', but more verbose.

in order to circumvent repetition

More formal and emphasizes actively avoiding repetition.

to not reiterate

Focuses specifically on avoiding repeating something verbally or in writing.

FAQs

How can I use "so as not to repeat" in a sentence?

You can use "so as not to repeat" to express the purpose of avoiding a recurrence of something, like in the sentence, "I'm documenting the process carefully "so as not to repeat" the same mistakes next time".

What phrases are similar to "so as not to repeat"?

Similar phrases include "in order not to repeat", "to avoid repeating", or "lest we repeat". Choose the phrase that best fits the tone and context of your writing.

Is "so as to not repeat" grammatically correct?

While understandable, "so as not to repeat" is generally preferred over "so as to not repeat" for better flow and adherence to standard English syntax. The former is more concise and widely accepted.

How formal is the phrase "so as not to repeat"?

"So as not to repeat" is generally considered a formal phrase. In less formal contexts, you might prefer alternatives like "to avoid repeating" or simply "not to repeat".