wish to prevent

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "wish to prevent" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when expressing a desire to stop something from happening or to avoid a particular outcome. Example: "We wish to prevent any further misunderstandings in our communication."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

48 human-written examples

Critics wish to prevent individuals from supplementing NHS care with additional, privately funded treatments.

The Guardian - Opinion

"I recommend using your third wish to prevent joint pain in later years".

The New Yorker

Do we wish to prevent the spread of anti-American jihadi terrorist groups?

The Economist

If we wish to prevent deaths and injuries, how many cameras is the right number?

Columbia University

The destruction of the tree symbolizes his wish to prevent his family from putting roots down here.

The New Yorker

It will emphasise its wish to prevent dumping of dredge spoils on or near the reef rather than having protection zones as per the current plan.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

12 human-written examples

With this regulation, the EEG wishes to prevent erecting WTs at locations inefficient for energy production.

Land Use Policy

Anyone who wishes to prevent New Zealand winning the 2007 World Cup has to stop McCaw first.

The Guardian - Sport

"Russia only wants to keep Ukraine on a lead … Putin wishes to prevent the final decay of Soviet Union".

The Guardian

Our news media's desire for transparency in government clashed with Iraqis' wishes to prevent their countrymen from being degraded.

The New York Times

"The more sophisticated instruct the more naive in precisely the behaviors that the intervener wishes to prevent".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "wish to prevent", consider the tone and context. It's suitable for formal and informal writing but might sound overly polite in very casual settings. Choose alternatives like "want to avoid" in those cases.

Common error

Avoid using "wish to prevent" in very casual conversations or informal writing. It can sound stiff. Opt for simpler alternatives like "want to stop" or "hope to avoid" for a more natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "wish to prevent" functions as a purpose clause, indicating the reason or intention behind an action. It typically introduces a subordinate clause that explains what someone hopes to avoid or stop. Ludwig shows its versatility across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

34%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "wish to prevent" is a versatile and grammatically correct expression used to convey a desire to avert a specific outcome. Ludwig AI confirms its broad applicability across various contexts, with a higher prevalence in news, scientific, and academic domains. While generally neutral in register, leaning toward professional, it's essential to consider the tone and choose more casual alternatives in informal settings. The phrase functions as a purpose clause, clearly stating the intention behind actions aimed at preventing undesirable situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hope to avert

Emphasizes avoiding a negative outcome, focusing on hope and positive action.

desire to preclude

A more formal alternative that highlights preventing something from even occurring.

aim to forestall

Suggests taking action to prevent something from happening, often with a sense of urgency.

try to preclude

Similar to desire to preclude but with a slightly less formal tone.

seek to impede

Focuses on hindering or obstructing something's progress or occurrence.

strive to deter

Highlights discouraging or preventing something through fear or doubt.

want to avoid

A simpler, more direct way to express the desire to prevent something.

endeavor to avert

Expresses a determined attempt to prevent a negative outcome.

intend to obviate

Implies removing the need for something by preventing the circumstances that would require it.

hope to stop

Similar to want to avoid but with a slightly less formal tone.

FAQs

How to use "wish to prevent" in a sentence?

The phrase "wish to prevent" expresses a desire to stop something from happening. For example, "We "wish to prevent" any further delays in the project."

What can I say instead of "wish to prevent"?

You can use alternatives like "want to avoid", "hope to avert", or "aim to forestall" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "wish to prevent" or "want to prevent"?

Both ""wish to prevent"" and "want to prevent" are grammatically correct, but "wish to prevent" is more formal. Choose the phrase that best suits the tone of your writing.

What's the difference between "wish to prevent" and "hope to prevent"?

"Wish to prevent" implies a strong desire and intention to stop something, while "hope to prevent" suggests a desire accompanied by a degree of uncertainty about the outcome.