warding off

USAGE SUMMARY

"warding off" is a perfectly acceptable expression in written English.
It is used to describe an action taken to prevent or protect against a potential threat. For example, "The government has taken measures to ward off potential terrorist attacks."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Warding off those scenarios took a toll on Pitney.

The New York Times

Mainly, I spent the day warding off journalists.

The New York Times - Health

The Levine Laboratory studies the role of social involvement in enhancing health and warding off adversity.

Columbia University

The immune system response that produces inflammation is crucial in warding off infections.

Yale University

Medications can do wonderful things, from fighting infection to preventing stroke and warding off depression.

Harvard University

Longer, sweeter melodies were no less well served, Mr. Pollini's unsentimental approach warding off triviality.

The New York Times - Arts

Dances among other peoples suggest the purpose of warding off the (evil) spirits of the dead.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Or they'll go into lots of pseudo-anthropology about fertility of warding off the evil eye.

Independent

Doctors might prescribe certain species to protect the fetus from infections, warding off early labor.

The New York Times - Science

But warding off senility cannot be the only reason people turn to puzzles for relaxation.

The Economist

Arm, shoulder, and chest strength are crucial to maintaining independence and warding off injury.

Harvard University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "warding off" to describe proactive measures taken to prevent negative outcomes, such as "warding off illness" or "warding off financial crises".

Common error

While "warding off" is acceptable, it may sound overly formal in casual conversation. Consider using simpler alternatives like "avoiding" or "preventing" for everyday contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "warding off" functions as a present participle phrase, typically acting as an adjective modifying a noun or as part of a verb phrase. It describes the action of preventing something undesirable, as seen in Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Academia

27%

Science

14%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "warding off" is a commonly used and grammatically correct gerund phrase that signifies preventing something undesirable. Ludwig AI confirms its widespread acceptance in written English. It is most frequently found in news, academic, and scientific contexts, with a neutral to formal register. To ensure clarity, consider simpler alternatives like "avoiding" or "preventing" in less formal settings. Use "warding off" to emphasize proactive measures aimed at preventing negative outcomes. Its presence in authoritative sources underscores its reliability in formal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fending off

Focuses more on actively defending against an immediate attack or threat.

averting

Implies preventing something negative from happening, often something significant.

preventing

A general term for stopping something from occurring.

repelling

Suggests pushing something away, often something unpleasant or unwanted.

deflecting

Implies changing the direction of something, often to avoid its impact.

guarding against

Emphasizes protection and vigilance against a potential danger.

shielding from

Highlights the act of creating a barrier for protection.

protecting from

Focuses on providing a safe environment or defense against harm.

forestalling

Suggests taking action in advance to prevent something.

counteracting

Implies neutralizing or opposing a negative effect.

FAQs

How to use "warding off" in a sentence?

You can use "warding off" to describe actions taken to prevent something negative. For example: "Regular exercise helps in "warding off disease"".

What can I say instead of "warding off"?

You can use alternatives like "fending off", "averting", or "preventing" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "warding off" or "guarding from"?

"Warding off" implies preventing something from happening, while "guarding from" suggests protecting something from an existing threat. The best choice depends on the intended meaning.

What's the difference between "warding off" and "protecting from"?

"Warding off" often implies a proactive measure to prevent something before it occurs, while "protecting from" suggests shielding something from an imminent or current danger.