vältettäessä

Vältettäessä is a Finnish non-finite verb form derived from the verb vältää, meaning to avoid, prevent, or spare. It functions as an adverbial participle that introduces a subordinate clause expressing circumstance. In practical terms it can be translated roughly as “when/while avoiding” or “in avoiding,” and is most often found in formal or written Finnish, including safety, legal, or instructional contexts.

Formation and use: Vältettäessä is used to indicate that a particular action takes place under the condition of avoidance. It is commonly seen in sentences where the emphasis is on the preventive or precautionary aspect rather than on the agent performing the action. Examples include: Vältettäessä suuria kustannuksia kannattaa suunnitella huolella. (In avoiding large costs, one should plan carefully.) Vältettäessä vaaratilanteita on tärkeää noudattaa ohjeita. (When avoiding hazardous situations it is important to follow instructions.) The form is typically chosen in formal prose and can replace more explicit clauses to keep the text concise.

Relation to other forms: Vältettäessä is related to other non-finite participial forms the language uses to express circumstance, such as vältämällä or other -ta/-tä -essa/-essä constructions. It differs from the more action-focused or agentive forms by foregrounding the condition of avoidance rather than the actor performing the avoidance. In everyday speech speakers may prefer more common constructions, while vältettäessä appears more often in written, technical, or policy-oriented language.