stay away

USAGE SUMMARY

"stay away" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to indicate that someone should not come close to a certain location or person. For example: "Please stay away from the construction site."

✓ Grammatically correct

Wiki

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Stay away stay away'?

Independent

Stay away from Starbucks.

The New Yorker

Everyone else, stay away.

The New York Times

And stay away!

The New Yorker

"I can't stay away".

The New York Times

I stay away.

The New York Times

So why stay away?

Independent

Stay away from him".

The New York Times - Sports

Stay away from denim.

The New York Times

Stay away, she declared.

Independent

Stay away, Eldrick.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "stay away" to clearly and directly instruct someone to avoid a person, place, or thing. It's suitable for warnings or strong recommendations.

Common error

While "stay away" is clear, it can sound too informal or harsh in professional settings. Opt for phrases like "avoid contact" or "refrain from approaching" in business communication.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "stay away" functions as an imperative, directly instructing someone to maintain distance or avoid something. Ludwig AI confirms its use in commands and warnings.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Wiki

31%

News & Media

27%

Science

11%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "stay away" is a common imperative used to instruct someone to avoid a person, place, or thing. Ludwig AI confirms that it's grammatically correct and widely used. While effective for direct communication, it's important to consider the context, as it can be perceived as informal or harsh. In professional settings, consider alternatives like "avoid contact" or "refrain from approaching". Its frequency is very common, particularly in wiki and news sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

keep away

A simpler version of the original phrase.

do not approach

A direct instruction to avoid getting close.

keep your distance

Emphasizes maintaining a physical separation.

avoid contact

Focuses on preventing any interaction.

steer clear of

Suggests deliberately choosing a different path to avoid something.

refrain from approaching

A more formal way to indicate avoidance.

give a wide berth

Implies leaving plenty of space to avoid something.

leave alone

Focuses on not disturbing or interfering with something.

evade

Suggests skillfully escaping or avoiding.

shun

Implies deliberately avoiding someone or something, often due to disapproval.

FAQs

How can I use "stay away" in a sentence?

You can use "stay away" to warn someone about a dangerous place, as in "Stay away from the construction site!" or to advise someone to avoid a person, as in "Stay away from him; he's trouble".

What's a more formal alternative to "stay away"?

In formal contexts, consider using alternatives like "avoid contact" or "refrain from approaching" to maintain a professional tone.

When is it appropriate to use "stay away"?

"Stay away" is suitable for informal settings, warnings, or when you need to be direct and clear about avoiding something. It's less appropriate for formal communication.

Is "stay away from" always necessary?

Yes, the preposition "from" is usually necessary when specifying what someone should avoid. Saying just "stay away" can sometimes be grammatically incomplete, unless the context makes it clear what should be avoided.