would have avoided

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "would have avoided" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It is typically used to talk about a past event or situation that did not happen because of a specific choice or action. Example: "If I had known about the accident, I would have avoided that route and taken a different one." This sentence implies that the speaker did not know about the accident and now regrets not choosing a different route in the past.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

"It would have avoided a real schism".

The New Yorker

Using that measure, Shell would have avoided trouble.

The Economist

"Prior to Sept. 11, some would have avoided this approach.

The New York Times

"If we'd done it sooner we would have avoided more trouble".

The New York Times

If he had played 5... bb4, he most likely would have avoided defeat.

The New York Times

Had he been driving on those missions, he told therapists, he would have avoided the attacks.

The New York Times

A decade ago, I would have avoided Solomon's book like the plague, too.

The New York Times

Earlier tightening, he argued, would have "avoided much of the housing boom".

The Economist

Le Monde reported that HSBC refused a plea deal that would have avoided a trial.

The Guardian - Business

That would have avoided encouraging the adoption of similar plans in New York, Massachusetts and Vermont.

The New York Times

It was a meeting both would have avoided with every bit of their wills.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "would have avoided" to discuss hypothetical past actions and their potential to prevent undesirable outcomes. For clarity, ensure the context clearly indicates what action would have led to the avoidance.

Common error

Avoid using "would have avoided" without a clear conditional clause (e.g., "if...then"). The phrase implies a hypothetical situation, so the condition that enables the avoidance should be explicit.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "would have avoided" functions as a past conditional perfect construction. It's used to express a hypothetical situation in the past where a specific action could have prevented a particular outcome. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

47%

Science

27%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

7%

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

7%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "would have avoided" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to express hypothetical past scenarios where a particular action could have prevented an undesirable outcome. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's considered grammatically correct. The phrase finds common use in News & Media and Science, serving to express regret, hypothetical situations, or counterfactual statements. When using "would have avoided", ensure a clear conditional clause is present to provide context, and consider alternatives like "could have prevented" or "might have averted" for nuanced expression. The phrase is versatile across different registers, suitable for both formal and informal communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

could have prevented

Emphasizes the possibility of stopping something from happening.

might have averted

Suggests steering clear of a negative situation or outcome.

could have steered clear of

Focuses on changing course to escape something.

might have circumvented

Implies finding a way around a problem or obstacle.

could have dodged

Conveys avoiding something quickly and skillfully.

might have evaded

Suggests escaping or eluding something through cleverness or strategy.

could have bypassed

Implies going around or skipping over something to avoid it.

might have sidestepped

Focuses on moving to the side to avoid something.

could have escaped

Emphasizes breaking free or getting away from a problematic situation.

might have mitigated

Suggests lessening the negative impact of something.

FAQs

How to use "would have avoided" in a sentence?

Use "would have avoided" to describe a past hypothetical situation where a particular action could have prevented a negative outcome. For example, "If I had known about the traffic, I "would have avoided" that route".

What can I say instead of "would have avoided"?

You can use alternatives like "could have prevented", "might have averted", or "could have steered clear of" depending on the specific context.

Which is correct, "would have avoided" or "would avoid"?

"Would have avoided" refers to a hypothetical past situation, while "would avoid" refers to a habitual or general avoidance. Use "would have avoided" when discussing something that could have been prevented in the past.

What's the difference between "would have avoided" and "could have avoided"?

"Would have avoided" implies a greater degree of certainty that the action would have prevented the outcome, while "could have avoided" suggests a possibility but not a guarantee. "Could have avoided" indicates more uncertainty.