to avoid forfeiting

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to avoid forfeiting" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the need to prevent the loss of something, such as rights, privileges, or opportunities. Example: "He took extra precautions to avoid forfeiting his chance at the promotion."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

The White House, civil rights groups and consumer advocates criticized the measure because it would allow anti-abortion protesters to avoid court judgments over illegal protests by seeking bankruptcy protection, and because it failed to end exemptions available in Florida and Texas that allow people with large homes to avoid forfeiting them when filing for bankruptcy.

The New York Times

To avoid forfeiting the entree that that job had afforded him into rock clubs and the basements of emerging bands, he formed JerseyBeat, for which he has since served as editor, publisher and lead writer -- he now writes nearly 25percentt of the material for its nearly 200 pages.

The New York Times

Policy makers then have to become skilled at translating this information into appropriate action, to avoid forfeiting any progress made in developing and reforming the health system.

Health Research Policy and Systems

We identified the fact that there is a potential problem with allocated beds which may have an impact on the quality of care provided, thus more cautious service planning is necessary in order to avoid forfeiting quality of care and service improvement by being too rigid about the number of beds necessary to provide a high quality service at all times.

BMC Health Services Research

After 29... Rf5, Ng, who had to make 10 more moves in only a few minutes to avoid forfeiting by going over his time limit, blundered with 30 Qh4, banking that his queen would be protected because Balakrishnan's bishop was pinned.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

Marbury had to dress just to avoid a forfeit.

The New York Times - Sports

He enlisted backup players who lived in the neighborhood to show up early to avoid a forfeit.

The New York Times - Sports

If the series had gone any longer they may have had to start pulling fans from the stands just to avoid an automatic forfeit.

The Guardian - Sport

They have been accused of forfeiting matches to avoid playing against each other.

The New York Times - Magazine

Although owners of older iOS devices have had the option to avoid the system upgrade - forfeiting other improvements - consumers buying the new iPhone 5 have had no option but to use the current Maps app as the device's default option.

BBC

Because the university lacked the equipment to produce the alloys, its engineering school could not interest any other company in development and ended up forfeiting the patents to avoid paying the tens of thousands of dollars needed to renew them every few years.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "to avoid forfeiting", ensure that the context clearly indicates what specific benefit, right, or item is being protected. This clarity enhances the sentence's impact and prevents ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "to avoid forfeiting" vaguely. Always specify what is being forfeited. For example, instead of "They took steps to avoid forfeiting", write "They took steps to avoid forfeiting their claim to the property".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to avoid forfeiting" functions as an infinitive phrase expressing purpose. It modifies a verb by explaining the reason behind an action, indicating that something is done in order to prevent a loss or penalty. Ludwig confirms this.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "to avoid forfeiting" is a grammatically correct and usable English expression, although it appears relatively infrequently. As Ludwig AI confirms, it functions as an infinitive phrase that expresses purpose, indicating an action taken to prevent the loss of something due to a penalty or missed requirement. It is used in both News & Media and Science contexts. When using this phrase, remember to clearly specify what is being forfeited to ensure clarity. Simpler alternatives include "to prevent losing" and "to keep from losing".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to prevent losing

Focuses on the act of preventing a loss, offering a more direct alternative.

to preclude forfeiting

This is a more formal way to express prevention, highlighting absolute prevention.

in order not to forfeit

Highlights the purpose behind the action, emphasizing intentionality.

to keep from forfeiting

Emphasizes the continuous effort to avoid a certain outcome.

so as not to forfeit

Another way to express purpose, with a slightly more formal tone.

to prevent the forfeiture of

Rephrases to focus on preventing the act of forfeiture itself.

to steer clear of forfeiting

Implies navigating carefully to avoid a negative consequence.

to avert forfeiture

A more concise and formal way to express avoiding forfeiture.

to evade forfeiting

Emphasizes skillful avoidance, sometimes suggesting cunning.

to bypass forfeiting

Focuses on finding a way around a potential forfeiture.

FAQs

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

You can use "to avoid forfeiting" to indicate the purpose of an action, such as "He made sure to submit the paperwork on time to avoid forfeiting his deposit".

What's a simpler way to say "to avoid forfeiting"?

Alternatives include "to prevent losing" or "to keep from losing", which are more direct.

Is it better to say "to avoid forfeiting" or "to prevent forfeiture"?

Both are correct, but "to avoid forfeiting" focuses on the action of forfeiting, while "to prevent forfeiture" emphasizes the state of forfeiture. The best choice depends on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "to avoid forfeiting" instead of "to avoid losing"?

"To avoid forfeiting" is best used when something is lost as a penalty or consequence of not meeting a requirement, whereas "to avoid losing" is more general.