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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak quote

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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to prevents

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to prevents" is not correct in English.
It appears to be a grammatical error, as "to" should not be followed by the plural form "prevents." Example: "The new policy aims to prevent accidents in the workplace."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Six blue industrial lights glow on one wall, the kind that might be installed in some inner-city fast-food restaurant toilets to prevents junkies from finding a vein.

The total demand for Plavix in 2006 was not clear because of the generic competition, but analysts view the drug, which is intended to prevents blood clots, as a potentially $8 billion worldwide franchise.

News & Media

The New York Times

The deal that the 15 governments agreed to prevents them from extraditing American government employees accused of war crimes to the court, on the condition that the United States government guarantee that such a suspect would be tried in an American court.

News & Media

The New York Times

A confirmative diagnostic ensures appropriate antimicrobial therapy to prevents serious complications and death and reduces inappropriate antimicrobial usage (Parry et al., 2011a; Parry et al., 2014).

Science

eLife

In addition to maintaining constitutive transcription, SUMO has also been found to prevents the overt activation of induced genes by facilitating the shut off of the transcription in yeast [ 7].

Make sure the hose gasket is in place the hose has a rubber or vinyl gasket in it to prevents leaks.

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Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

To prevent injury.

News & Media

The New York Times

To prevent me from leaving?

News & Media

The New York Times

Carl had to prevent that.

News & Media

The New Yorker

to prevent a market collapse.

News & Media

The Guardian

So as to prevent pandemonium?

News & Media

The New Yorker
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Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always ensure correct subject-verb agreement. Use "to prevent" instead of "to prevents". For example: "The goal is to prevent further damage."

Common error

Avoid using plural verb forms directly after "to". "To" is followed by the base form of the verb. Instead of saying "to prevents", use "to prevent".

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

80%

Authority and reliability

2.5/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to prevents" is an incorrect attempt to express purpose or intention. It violates basic subject-verb agreement rules in English grammar. Ludwig AI confirms this by flagging it as an error and suggesting corrections.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Wiki

43%

News & Media

29%

Science

28%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "to prevents" is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided. Ludwig AI identifies this as a grammatical error. While the intention behind using the phrase is often to express purpose or the desire to stop something from happening, the incorrect verb form undermines the message. Correct alternatives include "to prevent", "in order to prevent", or "so as to prevent". Always ensure subject-verb agreement and use the base form of the verb after "to" to maintain grammatical correctness and clarity. While the examples can be found in a variety of sources, including news, wiki, and scientific domains, the phrase's grammatical inaccuracy makes it unsuitable for formal writing.

FAQs

How should I correctly use the phrase "to prevent" in a sentence?

Use "to prevent" followed by the action or outcome you wish to avoid. For example, "We implemented new safety measures "to prevent accidents"."

What are some alternatives to the phrase "to prevent"?

You can use phrases like "in order to prevent", "so as to prevent", or simply "to avoid", depending on the context.

Which is grammatically correct: "to prevent" or "to prevents"?

"To prevent" is grammatically correct. The infinitive form of a verb after "to" should always be the base form. "To prevents" is incorrect because it uses the third-person singular form of the verb.

What is the difference between "to prevent" and "preventing"?

"To prevent" is an infinitive form expressing purpose, while "preventing" is a gerund or present participle often used as a noun or part of a continuous verb tense. For example, "To prevent flooding, we built a dam" (purpose) versus "Preventing flooding is a key concern" (noun).

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Source & Trust

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Authority and reliability

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Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: