во избежание + Genitive
Preventive Purpose Во Избежание
во избежание + Genitive is a formal way to say 'to prevent' or 'to avoid' a specific negative outcome.
How It Works
The expression во избежание is a hallmark of the Russian official-business style (канцелярит). It is classified as a derivative preposition (производный предлог).
1. Grammatical Structure:
It strictly governs the Genitive case. While the words во избежание form a fixed unit, adjectives can be placed between the preposition and the noun it governs (e.g., во избежание возможных ошибок). It is most frequently paired with verbal nouns or abstract nouns representing risks, such as ошибок (errors), конфликтов (conflicts), or пожара (fire).
2. Register and Usage:
This pattern is highly formal. You will see it in:
- Legal documents and contracts.
- Safety instructions and manuals.
- Official corporate correspondence.
It is rarely used in casual conversation. In everyday speech, Russians prefer using чтобы не followed by a verb.
3. Orthography and Punctuation:
There are two critical spelling rules to remember:
- Two words: It is always written as two separate words: во избежание.
- Final letter: The final letter is always -е, reflecting its historical origin as an accusative form. Writing it with an '-и' is a common error.
Punctuation (commas) around the phrase is optional and usually depends on the length of the phrase and the desired emphasis.
Examples (4)
- Во избежание недоразумений, просим вас сохранять чеки.
To avoid misunderstandings, we ask you to keep your receipts.
Word by Word: In avoidance [of] misunderstandings, [we] ask you to keep receipts.
A classic example from a retail or service environment using the Genitive plural 'недоразумений'.
- Во избежание пожара не оставляйте электроприборы без присмотра.
To prevent fire, do not leave electrical appliances unattended.
Word by Word: In avoidance [of] fire not leave electro-appliances without supervision.
Commonly found in safety manuals; 'пожара' is the Genitive singular of 'пожар'.
- Данные были зашифрованы во избежание утечки информации.
The data was encrypted to prevent an information leak.
Word by Word: Data were encrypted in avoidance [of] leak [of] information.
Uses a 'chain of genitives' (утечки информации) which is common in technical writing.
- Во избежание двойного налогообложения было подписано соглашение.
To avoid double taxation, an agreement was signed.
Word by Word: In avoidance [of] double taxation was signed agreement.
A typical legal/diplomatic context using the Genitive singular 'налогообложения'.
Common Mistakes
Writing 'во избежание' as a single word.
воизбежание недоразуменийво избежание недоразуменийDespite functioning as a single prepositional unit, 'во избежание' must always be written as two separate words.
Spelling the ending with '-и' instead of '-е'.
во избежании ошибокво избежание ошибокThis is a very common mistake even for native speakers. The fixed prepositional phrase requires the ending '-е'.
Using the wrong case after the preposition.
во избежание конфликтво избежание конфликтаThe noun following 'во избежание' must always be in the Genitive case.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To understand 'во избежание + родительный', a learner needs to be familiar with the base verb 'избежать' and its requirement for the genitive case. Additionally, they must understand how verbal nouns ending in -ние are formed and how they take objects in the genitive case to express the purpose of preventing something in formal or official contexts.
- избежать + GenitiveAvoid with Genitive
The prepositional phrase 'во избежание' is derived from the verb 'избежать', which governs the genitive case.
Level 5 - -ние/-тие + GenitiveVerbal Noun with Genitive Object
The word 'избежание' is a verbal noun ending in -ние, and understanding how these nouns function is essential for this formal construction.
Level 5 - Genitive object with verbal nouns
This pattern requires the use of the genitive case for the object of the verbal noun (e.g., избежание ошибок).
Level 4
Related Patterns
- чтобы + Purpose ClausePurpose Clause with Чтобы
The neutral, everyday alternative for expressing purpose or prevention.
Level 3 - -ние/-ение/-тиеVerbal Nouns in -ние, -ение, And -тие
The preposition 'во избежание' is almost always followed by these types of verbal nouns.
Level 4 - в целях + GenitiveFor the Purpose of
Another formal preposition of purpose used in the same official register.
Level 5 - Stacked genitives
Formal writing often stacks Genitive nouns after 'во избежание', creating long noun phrases.
Level 5
Words in This Pattern
Practice во избежание + Genitive in Bubblegum
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