so as to avoid confusion

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "so as to avoid confusion" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when explaining the purpose of an action or decision, specifically to clarify that the intention is to prevent misunderstanding. Example: "We have decided to use clear labels on all products so as to avoid confusion among customers."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

(So as to avoid confusion, they bought all the domains from radiooo.com to radioooooooooooooooooooo.com).

The New Yorker

The department explained that it released dates of birth so as to avoid confusion with individuals with the same name.

The New York Times

Strictly speaking, the first web browser was Tim Berners-Lee's WorldWideWeb, later renamed Nexus so as to avoid confusion with the web itself.

The Guardian - Tech

The recently coined lumbersexuals (a twist on lumberjacks so as to avoid confusion with the real thing, the key proponents are flannel shirts and selvedge jeans) is a case in point.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

We further argued that given a sectoral classification, it is useful to make a functional and locational categorization of the activity, and keep each of these three dimensions of the activity - sectoral, functional, and locational - separate and distinct so as to avoid confusion.

Cornell University

(We might call it 'modularity*', so as to avoid confusion).

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

Select a logical name for your virtual directory such as "root" or something similar as to avoid confusion.

WikiHow

(We'd most likely have avoided "twenty one," "twenty two," and so on, to avoid confusion with card games and starter rifles).

The New Yorker

Author response: I tend to agree that the difference between 'introns first' and the good, old 'introns early' is minor, so to avoid confusion, I do not really discuss 'introns first' as a separate concept.

Biology Direct

So to avoid confusion, why not personalize yours on the outside?

TechCrunch

So, to avoid confusion, let's call the Jesus that requires a capital H when I refer to Him as Jesus of Nazareth.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "so as to avoid confusion" when you want to explicitly state that the reason for a particular action or decision is to prevent misunderstandings. It is suitable for formal writing where clarity is paramount.

Common error

While effective, "so as to avoid confusion" can become repetitive. Consider using synonyms like "for clarity" or rephrasing the sentence for a more concise expression.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "so as to avoid confusion" functions as an adverbial phrase of purpose. It modifies a verb, clause, or sentence by explaining the reason or intention behind a particular action or statement. As Ludwig AI confirms, this usage is grammatically correct and serves to enhance clarity.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

30%

News & Media

30%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Academia

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "so as to avoid confusion" serves as a robust tool for enhancing clarity in formal writing by explicitly stating the intention behind an action. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, its grammatical correctness and frequent usage across diverse domains like news, science, and academia underscore its utility. While versatile, it's crucial to balance its usage with more concise alternatives like "for clarity" or direct rephrasing to prevent redundancy. By understanding its function, purpose, and appropriate contexts, writers can effectively leverage "so as to avoid confusion" to ensure their message is communicated clearly and precisely.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to prevent any misunderstanding

Focuses on preventing any form of misunderstanding, rather than specifically avoiding confusion.

for the purpose of clarification

States the purpose as clarification, a more direct approach.

in order to preclude ambiguity

Uses more formal language to express the prevention of ambiguity.

for clarity's sake

A more concise and direct way of stating the intention of being clear.

to eliminate any doubt

Emphasizes the removal of doubt, which is a specific type of confusion.

in order to maintain clarity

Highlights maintaining existing clarity, not just avoiding confusion.

to ensure comprehensibility

Highlights the goal of making something easily understood.

to remove all obscurity

Addresses the removal of obscurity, which can lead to confusion.

to clarify matters

Focuses on making things clearer, which indirectly helps avoid confusion.

in the interest of precision

Focuses on accuracy and precision, reducing the chance of confusion.

FAQs

How can I use "so as to avoid confusion" in a sentence?

You can use "so as to avoid confusion" to explain the reason behind an action or decision, highlighting the intention to prevent misunderstandings. For example, "We have standardized the reporting format "to avoid confusion" among stakeholders".

What are some alternatives to "so as to avoid confusion"?

Alternatives include "to prevent confusion", "for clarity", "to ensure understanding", or "in order to clarify". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it better to say "to avoid confusion" or "so as to avoid confusion"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but "so as to avoid confusion" is more formal and emphasizes the purpose behind the action. "To avoid confusion" is generally more concise and suitable for most contexts.

Can "so as to avoid confusion" be used in informal writing?

While grammatically correct, "so as to avoid confusion" is generally more appropriate for formal writing. In informal contexts, simpler phrases like "to not confuse people" or "for clarity" may be more suitable.