to evade doing something

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to evade doing something" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the act of avoiding or escaping a responsibility or action. Example: "He always tries to evade doing his chores by claiming he is too busy with work."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Originally, it came from the abbreviated "sabotage," "sabo," but it has become completely Japanified by adding the Japanese verb form "ru" and then taken on a somewhat divergent meaning: to play truant, to evade doing something one does not want to do, not to do one's part.

The New York Times - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Dare to fail to do something new.

Life Sciences, Society and Policy

After all, women's oppression is a global phenomenon and so it should also be a global concern; countenancing it in the name of religious or cultural differences just allows us to evade the responsibility of trying to do something about it.

The Guardian - Opinion

(One might lack formal freedom to do something yet be really free to do it, if one was able to evade or overcome the legal and extralegal obstacles to doing that thing).

SEP

But it meant something to do something.

The New Yorker

"I had to do something".

The New York Times

I wanted to do something".

The New York Times

George has to do something.

The New York Times

You have to do something.

The New York Times

He had to do something.

The Economist

I want to do something".

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using synonyms like "avoid" or "dodge" for a less formal tone. Use "evade" when you want to emphasize skillful or strategic avoidance.

Common error

While grammatically correct, "evade" can sound overly formal or even suggest wrongdoing in everyday situations. Opt for more natural alternatives like "avoid" or "skip" when talking about simple tasks.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to evade doing something" functions as an infinitive phrase indicating purpose or intention. As Ludwig AI suggests, it describes the reason or goal behind an action, which is to avoid performing something.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "to evade doing something" is grammatically sound and describes the intention to strategically avoid a particular action or responsibility. While Ludwig indicates the phrase is correct and usable, it's relatively rare and leans towards a neutral-to-formal register. Consider simpler alternatives like "avoid" or "dodge" in less formal settings. The choice of "evade" implies a more deliberate and skillful effort to escape the task at hand. As Ludwig examples show, it often appears in news and media, as well as scientific contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to avoid doing something

Replaces "evade" with "avoid", a more common and less forceful synonym.

to dodge doing something

Uses "dodge" for a more informal and active sense of avoidance.

to shirk doing something

Emphasizes neglecting a duty or responsibility.

to sidestep doing something

Implies skillfully avoiding something, often with a sense of cleverness.

to get out of doing something

A more colloquial way to express avoiding a task.

to weasel out of doing something

Suggests using deception or trickery to avoid a responsibility.

to abstain from doing something

Focuses on refraining from an action, often for moral or ethical reasons.

to refrain from doing something

A more formal version of abstaining.

to escape doing something

Highlights the act of freeing oneself from an obligation.

to elude doing something

Suggests skillfully escaping or avoiding something, similar to 'sidestep' but more subtle.

FAQs

What's a simpler way to say "to evade doing something"?

You can use simpler alternatives such as "to avoid doing something" or "to skip doing something", depending on the context.

Is it always negative to "evade doing something"?

While "evade" can imply skillful avoidance, it doesn't necessarily carry a negative connotation. The negativity depends on the specific context and what's being evaded.

How does "to evade doing something" differ from "to avoid doing something"?

"To evade doing something" often implies a more deliberate or strategic effort to escape a responsibility, whereas "to avoid doing something" can be more passive or incidental.

Can "to evade doing something" be used in formal writing?

Yes, "to evade doing something" is suitable for formal writing, especially when you want to emphasize a strategic or calculated effort to avoid something.