to preclude

USAGE SUMMARY

"to preclude" is correct and can be used in written English.
It means to prevent something from happening or to make something impossible. Example: Adequate safety measures were taken to preclude any accidents from occurring on the construction site.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

That seems to preclude any formal measures, including mediation.

The Guardian - Money

Kashmir's long-simmering conflict seems to preclude such an approach.

The New York Times

Both Carter's piety and Yankee presumption try to preclude scrutiny.

The New Yorker

"It may be inequitable to preclude her participation in postagreement wealth".

The New York Times

It is precisely that sort of dispute that the current Congressional bills are meant to preclude.

The New York Times

But there is nothing to preclude the home secretary from doing so.

The Guardian

The mood wasn't so glum, however, as to preclude a bit of excitement.

The New York Times

"That doesn't mean we have to preclude a place for faith in our public life".

The New York Times

"There is nothing in the medicals to preclude him from fighting".

The New York Times - Sports

Hospice care, when it was introduced, was not meant to preclude medical care.

The New Yorker

Andresen seems fairly certain that sufficient consensus will be reached, at least to preclude diverging ledgers.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "to preclude" when you want to express a strong sense of prevention or impossibility. It is particularly suitable for formal writing and technical contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "to preclude" in casual conversations or informal writing. Simpler alternatives like "to prevent" or "to avoid" are often more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "to preclude" is as an infinitive verb phrase. It typically functions as a verb modifier, expressing purpose or result. As seen in Ludwig, it describes the action taken to prevent something from happening, aligning with Ludwig's assessment.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

31%

Science

30%

Encyclopedias

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Reference

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "to preclude" is a versatile infinitive phrase predominantly used in formal and scientific contexts to denote the act of preventing something from happening or making it impossible. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly found in news articles, scientific publications, and encyclopedias. Its formal tone makes it less suitable for casual conversation, where simpler alternatives like "to prevent" or "to avoid" may be preferred. Its meaning is closely related to other terms such as "to rule out" and "to eliminate", though "to preclude" often carries a stronger sense of complete prevention. By understanding its grammatical function, communicative purpose, and register, writers can effectively use "to preclude" to express proactive measures against potential problems or unwanted situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to prevent

Focuses on stopping something from happening, similar to precluding.

to rule out

Implies eliminating a possibility, close to precluding.

to eliminate

Suggests removing something entirely, akin to precluding its occurrence.

to make impossible

Directly conveys the idea of preventing something from being possible.

to avert

Emphasizes avoiding something undesirable, similar to precluding a negative outcome.

to forestall

Highlights acting in advance to prevent something, mirroring preclusion.

to preclude the possibility of

Adds specificity by focusing on preventing an event or state from occurring.

to obviate

Means to remove the need or difficulty, similar to precluding a problem.

to head off

Implies stopping something before it starts, close to precluding.

to fend off

Suggests defending against something to prevent it, similar to precluding an attack.

FAQs

How to use "to preclude" in a sentence?

"To preclude" is used to indicate the prevention of something from happening. For example, "The new regulations are designed to preclude any further incidents".

What can I say instead of "to preclude"?

You can use alternatives like "to prevent", "to avoid", or "to rule out" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "to preclude" or "precluding"?

Both forms can be correct, but they serve different grammatical functions. "To preclude" is the infinitive form, while "precluding" is the gerund or present participle. Use "to preclude" after auxiliary verbs like "is going" or "meant", and "precluding" as a noun or part of a continuous verb tense.

What's the difference between "to preclude" and "to prevent"?

While both mean to stop something from happening, "to preclude" often implies a more forceful or complete prevention. "To prevent" is a more general term, while "to preclude" suggests making something impossible.