to avoid losing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to avoid losing" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to any situation in which you are trying to avoid a negative outcome. For example: "He studied hard to avoid losing his scholarship."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

How to avoid losing our mental maps?

The New York Times

To avoid losing her, he takes a sip — and more.

The New York Times

Charles apparently would do anything to avoid losing.

The New York Times

It also helps to avoid losing jobs in the first place.

The New York Times

To avoid losing face, some Singaporeans will avoid saying "no" outright.

The Economist

They are just looking to avoid losing a year of development and income.

The New York Times - Sports

South would have been unable to avoid losing a diamond trick.

The New York Times

A company that sees its competitors doing it will follow suit to avoid losing out.

The Economist

With the heart ace onside, the declarers just had to avoid losing two spade tricks.

The New York Times

Good workers are hard to find, though, and I'll do almost anything to avoid losing them.

The New York Times

Both players need to check in at least 15 minutes before to avoid losing the spot.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "to avoid losing", ensure that the subsequent action or noun clearly defines what is being lost. For example, "To avoid losing data, back up your files regularly."

Common error

Avoid using "to avoid losing" without specifying what is being lost. For example, instead of saying "Take precautions to avoid losing", specify what precautions are needed and what you risk losing: "Take cybersecurity measures to avoid losing sensitive information."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to avoid losing" functions as an infinitive phrase of purpose, indicating the reason for an action. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. It modifies the main verb in a sentence, explaining the intention behind it.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

34%

Wiki

33%

Science

26%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "to avoid losing" is a versatile and grammatically sound phrase used to express the intention of preventing a negative outcome. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's suitable for various contexts, ranging from news reports and wikis to scientific publications. While widely accepted, writers should ensure the object of loss is clearly defined. Consider alternatives like "in order to prevent losing" or "so as not to lose" for nuanced expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in order to prevent losing

Replaces "to avoid" with "in order to prevent", adding a layer of formality.

so as not to lose

Switches to a negative construction with "so as not to", altering the syntax slightly.

to prevent the loss of

Nominalizes "losing" to "the loss of", shifting the focus to the noun.

with the aim of not losing

Expresses the purpose with "with the aim of not", making the intention more explicit.

for fear of losing

Highlights the potential consequence with "for fear of", emphasizing the anxiety.

to safeguard against losing

Uses "to safeguard against" to convey a stronger sense of protection.

to preclude the possibility of losing

Introduces a formal tone, focusing on completely ruling out the chance of losing.

in an effort to not lose

Emphasizes the exertion of effort to not succumb to the situation

to avert the risk of losing

Focuses on mitigating the potential danger of a situation.

to ensure against loss

More concise variation that places an emphasis on the measure to ensure

FAQs

How can I rephrase "to avoid losing" in a sentence?

Consider using phrases like "in order to prevent losing", "so as not to lose", or "to prevent the loss of" depending on the context.

Is "to avoid losing" grammatically correct?

Yes, "to avoid losing" is grammatically correct. "Avoid" is a verb that can be followed by a gerund (a verb ending in -ing that functions as a noun), such as "losing".

What's the difference between "to avoid losing" and "to avoid loss"?

"To avoid losing" implies preventing an ongoing action or state from resulting in a loss. "To avoid loss" is more general and focuses on averting the loss itself. For example: "Back up your data to avoid losing files" versus "Implement security measures to avoid data loss".

Can "to avoid losing" be used in formal writing?

Yes, "to avoid losing" is suitable for formal writing, but consider using more sophisticated alternatives like "to preclude the possibility of losing" or "to safeguard against losing" to enhance the tone and style.