to avoid prosecution

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to avoid prosecution" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing actions taken to prevent legal charges or consequences from being brought against someone. Example: "He decided to cooperate with the investigation to avoid prosecution."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

To avoid prosecution, McNamee agreed to meet with Mitchell.

The New York Times - Sports

Mr. Frankel fled the country to avoid prosecution.

The New York Times

However, he has used bribes to avoid prosecution, he said.

The New York Times

She is concerned that women who use drugs may also be having abortions to avoid prosecution.

The New York Times - Magazine

But the school agreed to a federal monitor to avoid prosecution.

The New York Times

"The companies are ensuring that they come in dribs and drabs to avoid prosecution.

The Guardian

Mr. Noorzai apparently wanted to trade his information to avoid prosecution.

The New York Times

No agreement has been reached for the bank to avoid prosecution and pay a fine.

The New York Times

He desires to avoid prosecution for his crime, but envies the media attention posthumously given to Roland Summers.

The New Yorker

Using wiretaps, he said, they uncovered a highly organized operation deploying children as thieves to avoid prosecution as adults.

The New York Times

Writer describes the legal and legislative maneuverings performed by Berlusconi and his allies to avoid prosecution for bribery.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the formality of your writing. While "to avoid prosecution" is generally suitable for news and formal contexts, more informal alternatives like "to dodge charges" might be appropriate for less formal settings.

Common error

Don't assume that all actions taken "to avoid prosecution" are inherently unethical. Sometimes, individuals or organizations take legitimate steps to protect themselves from unfounded accusations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to avoid prosecution" functions as an infinitive phrase expressing purpose. It typically modifies a verb, explaining the reason behind an action. Ludwig AI confirms this usage with numerous examples from various sources.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "to avoid prosecution" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to express the purpose of preventing legal charges. Ludwig AI's analysis, based on numerous real-world examples, shows it's most frequently found in news and media contexts, indicating a neutral to professional register. While alternatives exist, such as "in order to evade prosecution" or "so as to prevent prosecution", "to avoid prosecution" is a clear and widely understood way to convey the intention of preventing legal action.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in order to evade prosecution

Replaces "to avoid" with "in order to evade", emphasizing the intention to escape legal action.

so as to prevent prosecution

Substitutes "to avoid" with "so as to prevent", highlighting the proactive measure taken.

with the aim of averting prosecution

Replaces "to avoid" with "with the aim of averting", which is more formal and emphasizes the goal.

for fear of being prosecuted

Expresses the motivation for avoiding prosecution by highlighting the fear of its occurrence.

to escape legal proceedings

Uses a broader term, "legal proceedings", instead of prosecution, encompassing more than just criminal charges.

in an attempt to preclude prosecution

Replaces "to avoid" with "in an attempt to preclude", indicating an effort to make prosecution impossible.

seeking to circumvent prosecution

Uses "circumvent" to suggest finding a way around the legal process.

dodging legal charges

A more informal alternative, implying an active effort to evade charges.

to stay clear of prosecution

Focuses on maintaining distance from any situation that could lead to prosecution.

with the intent of precluding legal action

A more formal version that includes the general expression 'legal action' instead of only 'prosecution'

FAQs

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

You can use "to avoid prosecution" to describe actions taken to prevent legal charges, such as "The company cooperated with the investigation "to avoid prosecution"".

What are some alternatives to "to avoid prosecution"?

Alternatives include phrases like "in order to evade prosecution", "so as to prevent prosecution", or "with the aim of averting prosecution", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "to avoid prosecution" formal or informal?

"To avoid prosecution" is generally considered neutral to formal. More informal alternatives might include "dodging legal charges" or "staying clear of prosecution".

What's the difference between "to avoid prosecution" and "to evade prosecution"?

While similar, "avoid" implies preventing something from happening, while "evade" suggests escaping something already in progress. Therefore, "to evade prosecution" might be used when someone is already facing potential charges, whereas ""to avoid prosecution"" is more general.