act of intent

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "act of intent" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in legal or philosophical contexts to refer to a deliberate action taken with a specific purpose or goal in mind. Example: "The defendant's act of intent was clear when he signed the contract, indicating his commitment to the agreement."

✓ Grammatically correct

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Is that awkward sonic jump the product of lousy editing, a dwindling budget, plain carelessness, or an act of dadaist intent?

The Guardian - Film

Smith also does not give enough weight to the way revisionism and self-mythologisation is often a balm to the wounds made by history rather than an act of willful intent.

The Guardian - Books

No-one was injured in the attack in Bessbrook, but Ulster Unionist MLA Danny Kennedy said he condemned "this act of wanton intent and murder".

BBC

There's been a lot of finger-pointing in Romania following the Segarcea case, mainly at the freshly filled bit of ground under which Decu is buried the Romanian media, particularly, is convinced his entire sex life was a decade-long act of criminal intent and not just a misinformed teenager sleeping around.

Vice

And, in addition to their reckless irresponsibility, an act of criminal intent, I think the New York Times has shown an utter, reckless disregard for any responsible journalism by printing something that they know that they obtained in a way that is is not appropriate".

Huffington Post

Some cases of acetaminophen overdose have been described as parasuicidal, where the attempted suicide is more of a gesture than an act of lethal intent.

Critical Care

But were these cases the planned final acts of people intent on luring police officers into shooting them, a phenomenon known in law enforcement circles and criminal justice academia as "suicide by cop"?

The New York Times

That might technically make it more of a legitimate act of war in intent, than an act of terror.

Huffington Post

The act of "showing clear intent to do serious and bodily harm to another person", such as with a weapon, as a gun may be chargeable/or judged as a criminal assault, if the "reasonable person (a judge or jury) would likely see those actions as such a clear intent of such harm" -- 'because' there is that menacing, present means of carrying out such clear intent.

WikiHow

Fitch-Holland is charged with committing an act or series of acts with intent to pervert the course of public justice, namely asking former New Zealand player Lou Vincent to provide a false witness statement in connection with proceedings relating to the libel action between Cairns and Mr Modi in the High Court, which had a tendency to pervert the course of public justice.

The Guardian - Sport

A suicide attempt was defined as a self-destructive act with some degree of intent to die and the suicide attempt method was defined as violent or not according to the criteria of Träskman et al [ 13].

BMC Psychiatry

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "act of intent", ensure the context clearly establishes what the intention behind the action is. Be specific to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "act of intent" in contexts where the intention is unclear or unstated. Always clarify the specific purpose or goal that motivated the action.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "act of intent" functions as a noun phrase. It typically serves as the subject or object of a sentence, describing a deliberate action undertaken with a specific purpose or motivation. Although Ludwig does not provide direct examples of this phrase, this analysis is based on the individual components and grammatical function.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

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Less common in

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "act of intent" refers to a deliberate action undertaken with a specific purpose. While grammatically sound, Ludwig did not provide exact examples of its usage, suggesting it might be less common in contemporary writing. Alternatives like "intentional action" or "deliberate action" might be preferred depending on the context. When employing the phrase "act of intent", clarity in defining the specific intent is crucial to avoid vagueness. In conclusion, even if Ludwig doesn't report existing use of the expression it is totally correct and suitable for many formal contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

intentional action

Replaces "act" with "action" and "intent" with "intentional", creating a more concise and direct synonym.

deliberate action

Emphasizes the conscious and planned nature of the action.

purposeful act

Highlights the presence of a specific aim or goal behind the action.

premeditated action

Implies a significant degree of planning and forethought, often associated with legal contexts.

action with purpose

Rephrases the query to emphasize the existence of a goal.

calculated move

Suggests a strategic and carefully considered action, often in a competitive context.

motivated act

Focuses on the driving force or reason behind the action.

act of determination

Underlines the firmness of will behind the action.

act of volition

Emphasizes the element of free will and conscious decision-making behind the action.

voluntary action

Highlights that action was taken with one's own will.

FAQs

How can I use "act of intent" in a sentence?

You can use "act of intent" to describe a deliberate action taken with a specific purpose. For example, "Signing the contract was an "act of intent", demonstrating his commitment to the agreement." Alternatively, consider using "intentional action" or "deliberate action" depending on context.

What are some alternatives to "act of intent"?

Alternatives to "act of intent" include "intentional action", "deliberate action", or "purposeful act". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is "act of intent" formal or informal?

The phrase "act of intent" is generally considered neutral to formal. It is suitable for legal, philosophical, or serious contexts. More informal situations might benefit from simpler alternatives like "purposeful action".

What's the difference between "act of intent" and "intentional act"?

While closely related, "act of intent" emphasizes the presence of intention behind the action, whereas "intentional act" focuses on the deliberate nature of the action itself. They are often interchangeable, but "intentional act" can sometimes imply a stronger degree of planning.