to avoid any controversy

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to avoid any controversy" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing actions taken to prevent disputes or disagreements on a particular topic. Example: "The committee decided to change the wording of the proposal to avoid any controversy."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

For now, Pastore prefers to avoid any controversy.

The Guardian - Sport

Education secretary Nicky Morgan will continue her near silence on policy to avoid any controversy.

The Guardian

But "1m" (to avoid any controversy over 0m) by itself is exactly one metre, nothing more, nothing less.

University of California, Berkeley

The decision has been backed by London 2012 organisers, who were also keen to avoid any controversy.

The Guardian - Sport

It is as if the museum had decided this exhibition should turn away from almost everything celebrated in the rest of the memorial, perhaps to avoid any controversy.

The New York Times - Arts

The world No. 1, Rory McIlroy, may decline to compete at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro to avoid any controversy over what country to represent.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

In order to avoid any controversies about political correctness, no representations of people adorn these pieces of paper.

Forbes

Another option would be to avoid "any future controversy" by not naming the building after an individual at all, she said.

The Guardian

The ho-hum Giants have managed to avoid any major controversy heading into this season.

The New York Times - Sports

He denied suggestions the loan had any influence on the company winning government contracts but said he would step down to avoid any further controversy.

The Guardian - Business

"I guess it would be best if they just let him move on from Russia to avoid any more controversy over him being here".

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for neutrality in your writing, using the phrase "to avoid any controversy" can help frame decisions or actions taken to maintain objectivity.

Common error

Don't rely solely on "to avoid any controversy" as a substitute for addressing the root cause of potential disagreements. Strive for solutions that foster understanding rather than just preventing conflict.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to avoid any controversy" functions as an infinitive phrase expressing purpose. It modifies a verb, explaining the reason or intention behind an action. Ludwig AI confirms that this construction is grammatically sound and frequently used.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "to avoid any controversy" is a grammatically correct and usable English phrase employed to express the purpose of preventing disputes or disagreements. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it appears in various contexts, with a stronger presence in news and media and academic sources. While useful for maintaining neutrality, it's crucial to avoid over-reliance on this phrase as a substitute for addressing underlying issues that may lead to conflict. Alternative phrases such as "in order to circumvent any dispute" or "for the sake of averting conflict" can provide nuanced expressions of the same intention.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

for the sake of averting conflict

Replaces "avoid" with "avert" and "controversy" with "conflict", offering a slightly more forceful tone.

in order to circumvent any dispute

Replaces "avoid" with "circumvent" and "controversy" with "dispute", creating a more formal tone.

to steer clear of any disagreement

Employs the idiomatic expression "steer clear of" for "avoid" and replaces "controversy" with "disagreement".

so as not to provoke any contention

Uses "provoke" instead of "avoid" and "contention" instead of "controversy", changing the emphasis slightly.

to preclude any friction

Utilizes "preclude" in place of "avoid" and "friction" for "controversy", resulting in a more concise and formal expression.

seeking to forestall any dispute

Employs "forestall" instead of "avoid" and "dispute" for "controversy", conveying a sense of anticipation and prevention.

with the intention of preventing discord

Substitutes the entire phrase with a more descriptive clause emphasizing the prevention of "discord".

in an effort to sidestep any quarrel

Uses "sidestep" instead of "avoid" and "quarrel" instead of "controversy", implying a more active avoidance.

to dodge any polemic

Replaces "avoid" with "dodge" and "controversy" with "polemic", adding a sense of active evasion.

with a view to suppressing debate

Changes the focus to "suppressing debate" rather than avoiding controversy, implying a more proactive approach.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "to avoid any controversy" for a more formal tone?

For a more formal tone, you could use phrases like "in order to circumvent any dispute" or "with the intention of preventing discord".

Is it always best to "to avoid any controversy" in communication?

While avoiding unnecessary controversy can be beneficial, it's also important to address crucial topics openly and honestly. Sometimes, productive dialogue requires engaging with differing viewpoints rather than solely seeking to avoid any disagreement.

What are some situations where it's appropriate to use the phrase "to avoid any controversy"?

This phrase is appropriate when describing strategic decisions made to prevent potential public relations issues, political backlashes, or internal disputes. For example, "The company decided to change its marketing strategy "to avoid any controversy" regarding its environmental impact."

How does "to avoid any controversy" differ from "to prevent any conflict"?

"To avoid any controversy" focuses specifically on preventing public disagreement or scandal, while "to prevent any conflict" is a broader term that encompasses preventing any form of dispute, whether public or private.