suggested avoiding

USAGE SUMMARY

"suggested avoiding" is correct and can be used in written English.
You would use it to indicate a recommendation to not do something. For example, "The doctor suggested avoiding contact with anyone who might have the virus."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

She suggested avoiding concrete counters as well.

The New York Times

Mr. Tyson also suggested avoiding European producers of consumer goods.

The New York Times

In particular, Mr. Dolan of the F.T.C. suggested avoiding firms that promise to restore credit.

The New York Times

He said his doctor put him on pills and suggested avoiding juice or sweets, but didn't tell him much more.

The New York Times

Premier Oil crashed 9.5p to 19p as Jefferies cut its rating to hold and suggested avoiding the stock – now at record lows – because of its high debt pile.

Independent

A missionary doctor, Marian Manly, encouraged her to record the story of her journey with Pao, polished the text and suggested avoiding subjects such as prostitution which might cause "misunderstanding".

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

Experts suggest avoiding transactions over airport or cafe networks.

The New York Times - Tech

(The Federal Trade Commission suggests avoiding online card auction sites).

The New York Times

I suggest avoiding these items altogether since no amount of lead is safe.

The New York Times

Dr. Sherer also suggests avoiding elective surgery in July because of "the July syndrome".

The New York Times - Health

The Greeks did suggest avoiding sex and walking around naked (surely counter-productive?) to slim down.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To enhance clarity, consider rewording the sentence to use alternatives such as "recommended against" or "advised against" if the suggestion carries more weight.

Common error

Avoid using "suggested avoiding" when a stronger directive is intended. If you need to convey a command or strict prohibition, use phrases like "prohibited" or "strictly avoid" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "suggested avoiding" functions as a verb phrase indicating a past recommendation or piece of advice given to refrain from a particular action or thing. As confirmed by Ludwig, it's a valid and understandable construction in English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Science

41%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Reference

3%

Academia

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "suggested avoiding" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase to express a past recommendation to refrain from something. As noted by Ludwig, the phrase serves to guide and inform individuals on preventive actions. While the frequency of the phrase is common across both News & Media and Scientific sources, it's important to consider the nuance of the suggestion and choose alternative phrases like "recommended against" or "advised against" if a stronger directive is intended. When writing, be mindful of the context to ensure the appropriate level of formality and strength of the recommendation is conveyed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

recommended against

Replaces "suggested" with a more direct term, "recommended", while maintaining the negative implication.

advised against

Uses "advised" to convey a stronger sense of guidance than "suggested".

counseled against

Implies a more formal or professional recommendation to not do something.

dissuaded from

Focuses on the act of persuading someone not to do something.

cautioned against

Highlights the potential risks or dangers of something.

warned against

Emphasizes a serious warning about potential negative consequences.

proposed refraining from

Uses a more formal and indirect way of suggesting avoidance.

expressed reservations about

Conveys uncertainty or doubt about the advisability of something.

indicated a preference for not

Uses a more subtle and indirect approach to express a desire to avoid something.

urged to refrain from

Implies a strong encouragement to avoid something.

FAQs

How can I use "suggested avoiding" in a sentence?

You can use "suggested avoiding" to indicate a recommendation to not do something. For example, "The doctor "suggested avoiding" contact with anyone who might have the virus."

What's a more formal alternative to "suggested avoiding"?

For a more formal tone, consider using alternatives like "recommended against" or "advised against", which carry a stronger sense of guidance.

Is there a difference between "suggested avoiding" and "warned against"?

"Warned against" implies a more serious warning about potential negative consequences, while ""suggested avoiding"" is a more general recommendation.

When should I use "suggested avoiding" instead of "recommended against"?

Use ""suggested avoiding"" when you want to convey a softer, less forceful recommendation. If the advice is more critical, "recommended against" is a better choice.