to avoid affecting

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to avoid affecting" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing actions taken to prevent an impact or influence on something else. Example: "We implemented new policies to avoid affecting employee morale during the transition."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

41 human-written examples

Transmission levels are at low enough power to avoid affecting the safety of aircraft equipment.

The New York Times - Tech

The factorial design of the experiment was established to meet the equipment conditions and to avoid affecting the results.

Optics Communications

Mr. Christie went against a long Justice Department presumption against opening investigations or bringing indictments right before an election, to avoid affecting the outcome.

The New York Times

As far as the Hudson is concerned, Mr. Musegaas said, the proposed pipeline would run deep enough under the riverbed to avoid affecting marine life.

The New York Times

She has not notified NBC of a decision, but is leaning toward leaving, according to the people, who insisted on anonymity to avoid affecting the outcome.

The New York Times

Reporters shy away from direct involvement to avoid affecting the outcome of the news and to maintain the distance necessary to report accurately and fairly.

The Washington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

19 human-written examples

In order to minimize irritation to the CAM and avoid affecting the result, the scaffolds themselves were not utilized.

BioMed Research International

If restocking has to be programmed, plans should avoid affecting the genetic diversity in the vicinity of LM (and PM until further studied), or use it as a source area.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

The magnet is operated using a warm-to-cold cryogenic cycle which avoids affecting the precision field of the storage ring.

Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment

It's not possible to avoid adversely affecting some of your ecosystem partners.

Harvard Business Review

Developers who build near endangered species can be required by the Clean Water Act and other measures to acquire federal permits and to avoid adversely affecting imperiled wildlife.

The New York Times - Science

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "to avoid affecting", ensure the sentence clearly states what action is being taken and what the potential negative consequence is. This provides context and strengthens the clarity of your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "to avoid affecting" when the causal relationship is weak or unclear. Ensure there is a direct and logical connection between the action and the potential effect you're trying to prevent.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to avoid affecting" functions as an infinitive of purpose, indicating the reason or intention behind an action. It is used to express the goal of preventing a specific outcome, as illustrated by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

32%

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Academia

6%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "to avoid affecting" is a versatile phrase used to indicate the intention of preventing an influence or impact. According to Ludwig, it's grammatically correct and commonly found in diverse contexts, from scientific writing to news reports. While alternatives exist, such as "to prevent influencing" or "so as not to impact", the choice depends on the desired tone and context. When using this phrase, ensure that the causal relationship is clear and that your writing explicitly states the intended action and the potential consequence you wish to avert. The phrase is useful in formal contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

for the purpose of not affecting

Explicitly states the goal of non-interference.

to prevent from influencing

Focuses on preventing influence specifically.

in an effort not to affect

Emphasizes the attempt to avoid an effect.

so as not to impact

Emphasizes the intention of avoiding an impact.

in order to not influence

Highlights the purpose of avoiding influence.

to keep from influencing

Uses a more informal phrasing with "keep from".

with the aim of not impacting

Specifies the intention and the act of avoiding impact.

to preclude any influence on

Uses a more formal tone with "preclude".

to abstain from influencing

Highlights the conscious choice to refrain from influencing.

to circumvent influencing

Implies finding a way around influencing.

FAQs

How can I use "to avoid affecting" in a sentence?

Use "to avoid affecting" to introduce an action taken to prevent a specific consequence. For example, "We adjusted the settings "to avoid affecting" the system's performance".

What are some alternatives to "to avoid affecting"?

You can use alternatives such as "to prevent influencing", "so as not to impact", or "in order to not influence".

Is it better to use "to avoid affecting" or "to avoid impacting"?

Both "to avoid affecting" and "to avoid impacting" are grammatically correct and can be used interchangeably. However, "affecting" might be preferred in more formal contexts, while "impacting" is common in business and technical writing. Choose the one that best suits your audience and the overall tone of your writing.

What is the difference between "to avoid affecting" and "to avoid effecting"?

"Affecting" means to influence or produce a change in something, while "effecting" means to bring about or accomplish something. Therefore, ""to avoid affecting"" means to prevent an influence, whereas "to avoid effecting" would mean to prevent the accomplishment of something. The former is generally more common.