to avoid doing something

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to avoid doing something" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when you don't want to perform some action or task. For example, "We decided to avoid doing any traveling this summer due to the pandemic."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

Well, mainly because I was trying to avoid doing something else.

The Guardian - Money

But now it is invoked less often as an excuse to avoid doing something that would otherwise make sense.

The Economist

"Perot put the deficit on the agenda in a way that made it virtually impossible for whoever won to avoid doing something about it," he said.

The New York Times - Arts

Perhaps his books are intended as mere warning signs for readers to avoid doing something so foolish and unsatisfying as composing a manuscript.

The New Yorker

But when I reached a certain point, it seemed like a bad reason to avoid doing something that was interesting to me.

The New York Times

Literature John Perry of Stanford University for his Theory of Structured Procrastination, which states: "To be a high achiever, always work on something important, using it as a way to avoid doing something that's even more important".

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

Uni-dimensional or binary alerts designed to get physicians to do something or avoid doing something fall short for a number of reasons.

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

'Where people can't avoid doing something, or it's pleasurable for them to do something, their attitudes shift,' he says.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Also, though no one wants to talk about it, discussing your money and investments can help you avoid doing something that you'll regret later.

Forbes

He suggests, for instance, that administering mammograms to "women over 40 on an annual basis does not lead to an increase in life expectancy," because a doctor, seeing a tumor, "cannot avoid doing something harmful, like surgery followed by radiation, chemotherapy, or both — that is more harmful than the tumor".

The New York Times - Books

Mr. Nasr said he did not see how they could avoid doing something French.

The New York Times - Food

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "to avoid doing something", ensure the context clearly states the potential negative consequence or undesirable outcome that is being prevented. This adds weight and purpose to the avoidance.

Common error

While "to avoid doing something" is generally acceptable, be mindful of the context. In highly formal or academic writing, consider more sophisticated alternatives like "to preclude doing something" or "to refrain from doing something" for a more polished tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to avoid doing something" functions as an infinitive phrase, serving as an adverbial of purpose. Ludwig examples show it explaining the reason for taking a particular action, with Ludwig AI confirming its correctness.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Wiki

33%

Science

32%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "to avoid doing something" is a grammatically sound and versatile construction used to express the intention of preventing a specific action or outcome. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's appropriate for various contexts and registers, though more formal alternatives might be preferred in academic or highly professional settings. While found across different sources like news, wikis, and scientific articles, it's crucial to ensure the context clearly indicates what undesirable outcome is being prevented. Ludwig provides numerous examples illustrating its usage and highlighting its role in expressing purpose.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to prevent oneself from doing something

Highlights the self-control aspect of avoiding an action.

to refrain from doing something

Uses a more formal verb "refrain" suggesting a deliberate act of holding back.

to abstain from doing something

Emphasizes voluntary self-restraint, often used in contexts of avoiding temptation or harmful actions.

to evade doing something

Focuses on skillfully escaping or dodging an action.

to keep from doing something

More informal and conversational, suggesting an effort to suppress an impulse.

to sidestep doing something

Suggests cleverly avoiding something, often a difficult issue or question.

to circumvent doing something

Suggests finding a way around or avoiding a requirement or obligation.

to steer clear of doing something

Implies avoiding something potentially troublesome or dangerous.

to dodge doing something

Implies quickly moving out of the way to avoid an unwanted action or responsibility.

to preclude doing something

A more formal way to say to make something impossible, thereby avoiding it.

FAQs

How can I use "to avoid doing something" in a sentence?

You can use "to avoid doing something" to express the intent to prevent an action. For example, "I left early "to avoid doing something" I'd regret later."

What are some alternatives to "to avoid doing something"?

Alternatives include "to refrain from doing something", "to abstain from doing something", or "to prevent oneself from doing something", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "to avoid to do something"?

No, the correct form is "to avoid doing something". The verb "avoid" is followed by a gerund (the -ing form of the verb), not an infinitive.

What's the difference between "to avoid doing something" and "to prevent doing something"?

"To avoid doing something" implies a personal choice or action to steer clear of something. "To prevent doing something" suggests stopping someone or something from doing the action, so is rarely used with a self-referential subject.