to avert leaving

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to avert leaving" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing actions taken to prevent someone from departing or to avoid a situation that involves leaving. Example: "She took several measures to avert leaving the meeting early, ensuring she could contribute fully."

✓ Grammatically correct

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

WASHINGTON — At House Speaker John A. Boehner's request, Senate leaders and Representative Nancy Pelosi have been excluded from talks to avert a fiscal crisis, leaving it to Mr. Boehner and President Obama alone to find a deal, Congressional aides say.

The New York Times

One Occupy organiser feels that would be sufficient cause to call the movement's supporters onto the streets.It would seem in China's interests, too, to avert the occupation by leaving the standing committee's decision vague.

The Economist

It essentially ran over the Constellation from behind as the T.W.A. pilots banked left to avert contact.

The New York Times

With only a few years left to avert catastrophic warming, every single vote to confirm Mr Pompeo is a vote to protect profits of big oil billionaires and destroy the lives and livelihoods of millions around the world.

The Guardian - Opinion

In an electric atmosphere, with thousands demonstrating outside parliament, MPs began debating the arduous terms of a €130bn (£110bn) rescue package that the interim prime minister, Lucas Papademos, insists is the only way left to avert economic collapse.

The Guardian

Former Texas congressman Beto O'Rourke has compared those fighting climate change to the troops who stormed the beaches of Normandy and warned Iowa voters that the planet has just 12 years left to avert disaster.

The Guardian

Republicans hoped the legislation, which passed 247 to 181, would show that they had made a serious effort to avert a shutdown and leave Senate Democrats and the administration facing criticism for cutting off money to members of the military serving overseas.

The New York Times

With eight days left to avert a possible government shutdown, Congressional leaders from both parties on Sunday passed around blame and resorted to name-calling, but offered no clear path to a compromise that would allow for continued financing of government operations.

The New York Times

US Senate rejects House budget bill Jump to media player The US Senate has rejected a budget bill passed by the Republican-led House of Representatives, with just hours left to avert a government shutdown.

BBC

The failed vote was not only an embarrassment for Republican leaders, who ended up nowhere near the 218 votes they needed to pass the bill, but it also eats into the small window of time left to avert a government shutdown.

Huffington Post

Britain has secured the first of dozens of post-Brexit trade deals it must strike with the European Union's partners in an effort to avert widespread economic disruption after leaving the bloc.

The Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "to avert leaving", ensure that the context clearly indicates what negative outcome is being avoided by preventing the departure. This adds clarity and strengthens the rationale behind the action.

Common error

Avoid using "to avert leaving" when a simpler construction like "to stay" or "to remain" would suffice. Overusing complex phrases can make your writing sound unnecessarily convoluted.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to avert leaving" functions as an infinitive of purpose, indicating the reason or goal behind an action. It demonstrates an effort to prevent a departure and its potential consequences. Ludwig AI confirms the grammatical correctness of the phrase.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

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Less common in

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "to avert leaving" is grammatically sound but not frequently used due to the availability of more concise alternatives, according to Ludwig AI. It functions as an infinitive of purpose, indicating an intention to prevent departure. While the phrase is correct, writers may find simpler constructions like "to prevent departure" or "in order to remain" more effective in conveying the intended meaning. The most suitable contexts are neutral to formal, where deliberate prevention of departure is emphasized.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to prevent departure

Focuses directly on preventing the act of leaving, simplifying the expression.

to avoid exiting

Replaces "leaving" with "exiting", maintaining a similar level of formality.

to preclude departure

Uses a more formal term, "preclude", to convey the idea of preventing departure.

to forestall leaving

Employs "forestall" to suggest acting in advance to prevent someone from leaving.

to circumvent departure

Highlights the act of finding a way around or avoiding the need to leave.

to stave off departure

Implies delaying or pushing back the act of leaving.

to head off leaving

Uses a colloquial expression meaning to prevent something from happening, in this case, leaving.

to deter from leaving

Focuses on dissuading someone from leaving.

to discourage leaving

Similar to deter, but with a slightly milder connotation.

in order to remain

Expresses the purpose of staying instead of focusing on avoiding leaving.

FAQs

How can I use "to avert leaving" in a sentence?

While grammatically correct, "to avert leaving" might sound awkward. Consider using alternatives like "to prevent departure" or "in order to remain" for better clarity and flow.

What's a more common way to express the idea of preventing someone from leaving?

Phrases such as "to prevent departure" or simply "to stay" are often more direct and widely used.

Is "to avert leaving" always the best choice to convey the idea of avoiding a departure?

No, context matters. Sometimes, a positive framing, like emphasizing the intention "to remain", can be more effective than focusing on averting departure.

Are there situations where "to avert leaving" is particularly suitable?

You might use "to avert leaving" when you want to highlight the negative consequences that would arise specifically from someone's departure and the actions taken to prevent it.