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Today I saw this "try and avoid" phrase in a sentence . "Try and avoid repeating the problems with the images dataset". What does "try and avoid" in this sentence mean? Is it the same with "try to avoid ? "

zwlayer
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1 Answers1

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Try and avoid :

is an informal constructions often used colloquially The meaning of try and avoid is try to avoid.

As suggested by Cambridge Dictionary

With certain verbs, "and" can mean "in order to":

  • I asked him to go and find my glasses.
  • Come and see me tomorrow.

  • Wait and see (= wait in order to see) what happens.

  • informal Try and get (= try to get) some tickets for tonight's performance.

and Collind Dictionary on the usage of “try and” instead of “try to” states:

  • The use of and instead of to after try and wait is typical of spoken language, but should be avoided in any writing which is not informal: We must try to prevent (not try and prevent) this happening.

As noted in the language site Wordmall:

Most grammarians will endorse the expression “try to avoid” , at least in formal writing or speechmaking. The tradition is that when the first verb is a command or a strong request (the imperative mood), the verb that follows should be in the infinitive form (to + verb):

  • Try to avoid excessive noise. Come to see us when you get a chance. Be sure to get an application form on the way out.

However, in informal use, the word and often replaces the word to:

  • Try and avoid excessive noise. Come and see us when you get a chance. Be sure and get an application form on the way out.
user 66974
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