- Have you ever wondered why “avoid to go” sounds wrong to a native speaker?
- Do you find yourself using the same simple words every time you want to say you’re staying away from something?
- Are you looking to make your business English sound more professional and precise?
Mastering Avoid Collocations is a crucial step for any English learner aiming for fluency. In English, words don’t live in isolation; they live in “neighborhoods” called collocations. Understanding which words naturally sit next to “avoid” helps you reduce language anxiety, improve your writing speed, and sound more like a native speaker by using high-frequency, modern combinations.
Common Collocations with Avoid as a Verb
In modern English, “avoid” functions primarily as a verb. It is a “transitive verb,” meaning it always needs an object. Below are the most frequent and useful collocations grouped by their everyday context.
1. Social and Interpersonal Contexts
These phrases are essential for describing human interactions and body language.
- Avoid eye contact: To look away because you are shy, guilty, or don’t want to talk. Example: He tried to avoid eye contact with the teacher after not doing his homework.
- Avoid the subject: To intentionally not talk about a specific topic. Example: We spent the whole evening together, but we both avoided the subject of the divorce.
- Avoid a confrontation: To act in a way that prevents an argument or fight. Example: I decided to leave the room early to avoid a confrontation with my boss.
- Avoid someone like the plague: (Idiomatic) To stay very far away from someone. Example: Since their breakup, she has been avoiding him like the plague.
2. Problem Solving and Risk Management
These collocations are vital for business, academic writing, and professional environments.
- Avoid a crisis: To take action so a major problem does not happen. Example: Quick thinking by the pilot helped avoid a crisis during the landing.
- Avoid the pitfalls: To stay away from common mistakes or hidden dangers. Example: Our guide will help you avoid the pitfalls of starting a new business.
- Avoid delays: To ensure something happens on time. Example: Please submit your documents early to avoid delays in your application.
- Avoid detection: To stay hidden or not be noticed. Example: The hackers used a VPN to avoid detection by the authorities.
3. Health and Lifestyle
Use these when discussing diet, habits, or medical advice.
- Avoid fatty foods: To stay away from unhealthy eating habits. Example: If you want to lose weight, you should avoid fatty foods and sugary drinks.
- Avoid stress: To try and keep a calm life. Example: Doctors advise heart patients to avoid stress as much as possible.
- Avoid heavy lifting: A common medical instruction after surgery. Example: You must avoid heavy lifting for at least six weeks.
4. The Grammatical Pattern: Avoid + Gerund
One of the most important “grammatical collocations” for “avoid” is the word form that follows it. You must use the -ing form (gerund), never the infinitive.
- Avoid making (mistakes): Example: Always proofread your work to avoid making silly errors.
- Avoid paying (taxes/fees): Example: Some companies use legal loopholes to avoid paying higher taxes.
The Master Summary Table
| Collocation | Part of Speech | Quick Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Avoid eye contact | Verb + Noun | Looking away to avoid interaction. |
| Avoid a disaster | Verb + Noun | Preventing a very bad situation. |
| Avoid making | Verb + Gerund | Staying away from an action. |
| Avoid the rush hour | Verb + Noun | Traveling when traffic is light. |
| Avoid temptation | Verb + Noun | Resisting the urge to do something. |
| Avoid a repeat | Verb + Noun | Preventing something from happening again. |
Common Mistakes: Natural vs Unnatural
When using Avoid Collocations, many learners translate directly from their native language. Here is how to correct those common errors.
| Do Not Say | Say This |
|---|---|
| I avoid to eat sugar. | I avoid eating sugar. |
| He avoided from the accident. | He avoided the accident. |
| Avoid to make eye contact. | Avoid making eye contact. |
| I want to avoid the problem to happen. | I want to avoid the problem. |
Contextual Story
“When I started my first office job, I wanted to avoid making a bad impression. I made sure to avoid the rush hour by leaving home thirty minutes early. During the morning meeting, I tried to avoid the pitfalls of over-explaining my ideas, though I did avoid eye contact with the CEO because I was nervous. Thankfully, I managed to avoid a crisis by double-checking my reports before the deadline. It was a stressful day, but I successfully avoided a confrontation with my competitive colleague.”
Frequently Asked Questions about Avoid Collocations
Is it “avoid to do” or “avoid doing”?
In English, “avoid” is always followed by the gerund (-ing form). You should always say “avoid doing,” “avoid eating,” or “avoid going.” Using the infinitive “to do” is a very common error for English learners.
What is the difference between “avoid” and “prevent”?
“Avoid” usually means staying away from something that already exists or stopping yourself from doing something. “Prevent” means stopping something else from happening. For example: “I avoid the rain” (I stay inside) vs. “I prevent the leak” (I fix the roof).
Can I say “avoid from”?
No. “Avoid” is a direct transitive verb. You do not need the preposition “from.” Correct: “Avoid the area.” Incorrect: “Avoid from the area.” This is often confused with “prevent someone from” or “keep from.”
What are some professional Avoid Collocations for business?
In a business context, you will often hear: “avoid litigation” (legal trouble), “avoid a budget deficit” (losing money), “avoid redundancy” (repeating yourself), and “avoid a conflict of interest.”
What is the noun form of avoid?
The noun form is “avoidance.” While “avoid” is the action, “avoidance” is the concept. Common collocations include “tax avoidance” (legal) or “social avoidance.”
This is a life-saver for my presentations! I need to sound polished and professional. Learning these 'avoid' collocations will definitely boost my confidence. I often try to avoid controversy in my reports.
That's an excellent application, Akiko! 'Avoid controversy' is a perfect example of a professional and precise collocation with 'avoid'. Using phrases like these will absolutely make your presentations and reports sound more sophisticated and natural. Keep up the great work!
As a non-native speaker, I appreciate posts that break down these subtle nuances. 'Avoid to go' feels so natural in my head, but I know it's wrong. Thanks for explaining the transitive verb aspect clearly!
I'm still a bit confused about when to use 'avoid' versus 'refrain from'. They seem similar. Can you clarify the difference with examples? Especially in a formal context.
I never thought about 'avoid' in so much detail! The distinction between words living in isolation versus neighborhoods is truly insightful. My writing speed should definitely improve now. Cheers!
We're delighted to hear that, Chiara! That's exactly one of our goals – to help learners write and speak more fluidly. The more you familiarize yourself with these 'word neighborhoods,' the less you'll hesitate. Keep exploring and happy learning!
The part about reducing language anxiety hit home. Sometimes I just freeze trying to find the 'perfect' word. This helps streamline my thought process. Any tips on finding more collocations in general?
This article confirms my understanding, which is always good! I try to teach my students that collocations aren't just about 'correctness' but about 'naturalness'. This post does a great job of explaining that.
I've noticed that 'avoid' usually comes before the thing being avoided. Is it common to put 'avoid' at the end of a sentence or clause? Like, 'That's something I try to avoid.'?
That's a sharp observation, Kai! Yes, it's very common and perfectly natural to put 'avoid' at the end of a clause or sentence when the object is introduced earlier or implied. Your example, 'That's something I try to avoid,' is grammatically correct and frequently used by native speakers. Well spotted!
I'm preparing for my IELTS exam, and this is gold! Native-sounding phrases are crucial for the speaking and writing sections. 'Avoid eye contact' and 'avoid the subject' are excellent for describing situations. Thanks!
What a practical article! I'm trying to improve my academic writing, and using precise collocations is key. Could you provide some examples of 'avoid' in a more formal, academic context, please? Like 'avoid ambiguity'?
The article is very clear and concise. I appreciate the focus on modern English. It makes a huge difference to sound contemporary. I sometimes 'avoid the subject' when talking about politics with my family!
Isabelle, that's a perfectly natural and common use of 'avoid the subject'! It shows you've grasped the nuance of the phrase for social interactions. It's fantastic to hear that our modern approach resonates with you. Keep using these natural collocations!