unavoidable obligation

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "unavoidable obligation" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a duty or responsibility that cannot be avoided or escaped. Example: "Due to the unavoidable obligation of attending the meeting, I will not be able to join you for lunch."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

It was not so much an attractive prospect, I decided, as an unavoidable obligation.

The Guardian - Travel

"Perceived freedom of choice" explains the gross differences in impact, distinguishing two types of caregiver: those who perceive caregiving as a voluntary act of compassion (type 1) and those who find caregiving to be an unavoidable obligation (type 2).

BMC Psychiatry

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

He reported in Sept. that at the end of the Koch 4-year plan the budget gap could be as high as 2 billion, because of the administration's omission of unavoidable obligations on one side of the ledger and its inclusion of some highly uncertain sources of revenue on the other side.

The New Yorker

Whether it's work, meetings, family events, or unavoidable obligations for the upcoming week--taking time to map out your events ahead of time is a game changer.

Huffington Post

It adds up quickly, and if the couple need to delve a bit into their savings, they will do so, just as they would for any unavoidable financial obligation.

The New York Times

When excluding money spent on "unavoidable statutory obligations"—such as waste removal local government spending will fall by around 65% by 2020.

The Economist

Even if a patient's death was unavoidable, medics expressed feeling obligation and responsibility to the patients and their families.

Conflict and Health

The unavoidable need for health care coupled with the obligation to provide treatment make it virtually certain that all individuals will require and receive health care at some point.

The Economist

Although the government's projections suggest 0.7% annual growth in the public sector beyond April 2011, research body the Institute for Fiscal Studies predicts this will become a 2.3% reduction once unavoidable commitments such as benefits payments and debt obligations are taken into account.

The Guardian

As Beveridge put it in his 1942 report: "The correlative of the state's undertaking to ensure adequate benefit for unavoidable interruption of earnings is enforcement of the citizen's obligation to seek and accept all reasonable opportunities of work".

The Guardian - Opinion

Gov. Mike Huckabee asked the General Assembly to enact a sweeping reorganization of the public school system and the executive branch, and said higher taxes were unavoidable if the state was to meet its financial and social obligations.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "unavoidable obligation" to clearly convey that a particular duty or responsibility cannot be avoided due to circumstances or necessity.

Common error

Avoid using "unavoidable obligation" in very casual conversations; simpler terms like "have to" or "need to" are often more appropriate. This phrase has a formal tone that may sound stilted in informal settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "unavoidable obligation" functions as a noun phrase that typically serves as the object of a sentence or prepositional phrase. Ludwig suggests it describes a duty or responsibility that one cannot escape.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "unavoidable obligation" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe a duty or responsibility that cannot be avoided. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. While relatively infrequent, its presence in news and scientific sources indicates a formal or neutral register. When using this phrase, ensure that the context warrants its level of formality; simpler terms may be more appropriate for casual settings. Alternative phrases like "inescapable duty" or "mandatory requirement" can offer similar meanings with slightly different nuances. The phrase is useful for conveying a sense of necessity and lack of choice in fulfilling a particular responsibility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

inescapable duty

Replaces "obligation" with "duty" emphasizing a moral or ethical imperative that is impossible to avoid.

mandatory requirement

Substitutes both words to denote a compulsory condition or necessity that must be fulfilled.

unavoidable responsibility

Replaces "obligation" with "responsibility", highlighting the accountability aspect of the unavoidable duty.

compulsory commitment

Uses "compulsory" to reinforce the mandatory nature and "commitment" to suggest a dedication that is required.

obligatory task

Replaces "unavoidable" with "obligatory", focusing solely on the binding and required nature of the task.

required undertaking

Emphasizes the necessity of the "undertaking" suggesting it's something that must be done.

cannot be helped obligation

Changes the structure to emphasize the lack of control over the obligation.

must-do duty

More informal, uses "must-do" to simply and directly convey the necessity of the duty.

binding requirement

Focuses on the legally or morally "binding" aspect of the requirement, suggesting a formal constraint.

imperative necessity

Highlights the critical and urgent nature of the necessity, suggesting it's absolutely essential.

FAQs

How can I use "unavoidable obligation" in a sentence?

You can use "unavoidable obligation" to describe a duty or responsibility that cannot be avoided. For example: "Due to the "unavoidable obligation" of attending the meeting, I will not be able to join you for lunch."

What are some synonyms for "unavoidable obligation"?

Alternatives to "unavoidable obligation" include phrases like "inescapable duty", "mandatory requirement", or "compulsory commitment".

Is "unavoidable obligation" formal or informal?

"Unavoidable obligation" is generally considered a formal phrase suitable for professional, academic, or official contexts. In casual conversation, simpler expressions might be more appropriate.

What's the difference between "unavoidable obligation" and "moral obligation"?

"Unavoidable obligation" refers to a duty that cannot be avoided due to circumstances. "Moral obligation", on the other hand, implies a duty arising from ethical or moral principles, which may or may not be avoidable.