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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
this could be prevented
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
"This could be prevented" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it when referring to a potential problem that can be avoided or stopped in the future. For example: "If drivers followed the correct safety procedures, this could be prevented."
✓ Grammatically correct
News & Media
Science
Formal & Business
Alternative expressions(13)
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
24 human-written examples
"All of this could be prevented by preventing diabetes in the first place," she added.
News & Media
Mr Hoenig thought this could be prevented by supplementing the minimum capital requirement on the basis of supervisory inspections into underwriting standards.
News & Media
Certainly they appeared to place a higher priority on the question of what the Administration knew and when it knew it — the subject that has the potential of being politically useful — than they did on the question of how something like this could be prevented in the future.
News & Media
This could be prevented in different ways.
This study was performed to evaluate whether postoperative morphine consumption increased following intraoperative continuous remifentanil infusion and whether this could be prevented by intravenous ibuprofen pretreatment.
Pearson chimes in: "Everything points to the fact that High Street sales are slowing down, and I firmly believe that this could be prevented if these businesses took advantage of tried and tested methods online companies have used to advance their market positions".
News & Media
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
35 human-written examples
This could be preventing the assassination of the President.
Wiki
The primary aim of this screening was to identify SCD patients so that early complications of this disease could be prevented.
Science
Much of this illness could be prevented or at least mitigated by the vaccine, which is 70 to 90percentt effective.
News & Media
Scientists are convinced that the deaths from this illness could be prevented if they could figure out the cause.
News & Media
This failure could be prevented in the application by checking the length of data before insertion.
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
Combine "this could be prevented" with a specific action or measure that can lead to prevention, to provide a more actionable and informative statement.
Common error
Avoid using "this could be prevented" as a standalone statement without elaborating on how it can be prevented. Always provide context or suggested actions to make the statement more meaningful.
Source & Trust
83%
Authority and reliability
4.5/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "this could be prevented" functions as a statement expressing the possibility of averting a particular outcome. It asserts that a situation or event is not inevitable and that actions can be taken to avoid it. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and proper usage.
Frequent in
Science
52%
News & Media
28%
Formal & Business
12%
Less common in
Wiki
4%
Encyclopedias
0%
Reference
0%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
In summary, "this could be prevented" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase indicating the potential to avoid an undesirable outcome through proactive measures. Ludwig AI confirms the correctness of the phrase. It is used across various contexts, from scientific research to news reports, with a neutral register. When using this phrase, clarity is key; ensure that "this" is well-defined and consider suggesting actionable steps. Alternatives include phrases like "this is avoidable" or "this can be stopped", depending on the specific context.
More alternative expressions(10)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
this can be stopped
Uses "stopped" instead of "prevented", focusing on the act of halting an event in progress or before it begins.
this is avoidable
Changes the verb from "prevented" to "avoidable", focusing on the inherent possibility of avoiding something.
this is not inevitable
Highlights that an outcome is not certain, implying that it can be changed or prevented.
this doesn't have to happen
Emphasizes the lack of necessity for an event to occur, suggesting preventability.
we can avert this
Shifts the focus to the agent capable of preventing something, using "avert" as a synonym for "prevent".
measures can preclude this
Replaces "prevented" with "preclude", indicating that specific actions can make something impossible.
there is a way to preclude this
Similar to alternative 3, but emphasizes that it is possible to preclude something
it is possible to forestall this
Substitutes "prevented" with "forestall", suggesting proactive action to avert something.
this is something we can control
Focuses on the element of control in steering the situation away from something undesirable
this outcome is not fixed
Emphasizes the fluidity of the situation and how, as a result, it is still possible to intervene to achieve a different outcome.
FAQs
How can I use "this could be prevented" in a sentence?
Use "this could be prevented" to indicate that a negative outcome is not inevitable and can be avoided through specific actions or measures. For example: "If safety protocols are followed, "this could be prevented"".
What are some alternatives to saying "this could be prevented"?
You can use alternatives like "this is avoidable", "this can be stopped", or "this is not inevitable" depending on the specific context.
Is it better to say "this can be prevented" or "this could be prevented"?
Both "this can be prevented" and ""this could be prevented"" are grammatically correct, but ""this could be prevented"" implies a conditional possibility, suggesting that prevention depends on certain actions or circumstances. "This can be prevented" suggests a more straightforward possibility of prevention.
What does "this could be prevented by tapering instead of abrupt discontinuation" mean?
This means that a negative outcome (likely a medical complication) resulting from abruptly stopping a treatment or medication could be avoided by gradually reducing the dosage (tapering) instead of stopping it all at once.
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Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
83%
Authority and reliability
4.5/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested