to avoid causing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to avoid causing" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing actions taken to prevent negative outcomes or effects. Example: "She made changes to the schedule to avoid causing confusion among the team."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This was partly held back to avoid causing panic.

The Economist

"All parties to the conflict must do everything possible to avoid causing harm to civilians".

The New York Times

Still, gays here say they step carefully to avoid causing offense.

The New York Times

The jailers did their best to avoid causing any wound to my body.

The Guardian

Mostly we do our best, not always successfully, to avoid causing that kind of pain.

The Guardian - Opinion

The choice to try to avoid causing suffering when possible is not extremism.

The New Yorker

"All forces are obligated to do their utmost to avoid causing civilian harm".

The Guardian

The signs are being replaced during off-peak periods to avoid causing major delays on roads.

The New York Times

If Wayne wanted to avoid causing Coleen distress then it's quite simple.

The Guardian

But as with all marketing exercises, experts say, rule No.1 is to avoid causing offense.

The New York Times

In the end, I went along to avoid causing a mistrial.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "to avoid causing", ensure that the subsequent verb accurately reflects the specific action or consequence you are trying to prevent. For example, "to avoid causing confusion" is more precise than "to avoid causing problems".

Common error

Avoid stacking multiple phrases like "to avoid causing" within a single sentence. This can lead to convoluted and difficult-to-read prose. Simplify your sentences by breaking them down or rephrasing the intent more directly.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to avoid causing" functions as an infinitive of purpose, indicating the reason for taking a particular action. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is a common and acceptable way to express the intention to prevent something from happening. The examples provided by Ludwig showcase its versatility across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Science

33%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "to avoid causing" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to express the intention of preventing a particular outcome. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and wide acceptance. It's versatile, fitting into news reports, scientific articles, and general writing. While a useful phrase, be mindful of overuse and potential for complex sentence structures. Consider alternatives like "so as not to cause" or "in order to prevent causing" for varied expression. Remember, as illustrated by the numerous Ludwig examples, the key is clarity and context-appropriateness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

so as not to cause

A more formal alternative, placing emphasis on the intention to prevent the outcome.

in order to prevent causing

Explicitly states the intent of prevention.

to refrain from causing

Highlights the act of holding back from a particular action.

to steer clear of causing

Emphasizes deliberate avoidance.

to bypass causing

Suggests finding a way around a potential problem.

to prevent the causation of

A highly formal and somewhat verbose alternative, suitable for legal or technical contexts.

to circumvent causing

Implies skillful or strategic avoidance.

with the aim of not causing

Focuses on the intention or goal of preventing the outcome.

to evade causing

Focuses on escaping or dodging a negative consequence.

to preclude the possibility of causing

Emphasizes eliminating the chance of a specific outcome.

FAQs

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

The phrase "to avoid causing" is used to express the intention of preventing a particular outcome. For example, "She spoke softly "to avoid causing" alarm."

What are some alternatives to "to avoid causing"?

You can use alternatives such as "so as not to cause", "in order to prevent causing", or "to steer clear of causing" depending on the context.

Is it always necessary to use "to avoid causing", or can I sometimes omit it?

Whether you need "to avoid causing" depends on the sentence structure. Sometimes, you can rephrase the sentence to directly state the action taken without explicitly mentioning avoidance. For example, instead of "He left early "to avoid causing" a scene", you could say "He left early to prevent a scene."

Which is a more formal way to express "to avoid causing"?

A more formal way to express "to avoid causing" would be "in order to prevent causing" or "to preclude the possibility of causing".