actual desire

USAGE SUMMARY

"actual desire" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is an expression that is typically used to emphasize the intensity of one's feelings or ambitions. For example, "He pored over the book, driven by an actual desire to learn more."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

She's a rarity: a sexually actualized female pop star, happy to be on camera as someone with actual desire.

The New York Times - Arts

The optimization of a watermark extraction algorithm and watermarking scheme for stable watermark extractions from 2D codes displayed on various display types is the actual desire.

Applied Soft Computing

Grades and scores don't measure students' actual desire to become a lawyer, or the personality traits that are likely to predict success or happiness in the field.

The New York Times

The decision by Scholes probably had as much to do with the reluctance of United's longtime manager, Alex Ferguson, to make an acquisition during this month's transfer period as it does with his actual desire to lace up his cleats again.

The New York Times

The same question always creeps up: "Are you planning to go back?" And the answer, whether there is an actual desire to eventually go back or not, is always: "Not in the next five or 10 years anyway, it would be impossible".

The Guardian - Opinion

If women are the objects of aesthetic pleasure, then the actual desire of the perceiver must be distanced and overcome in order for enjoyment to be purely aesthetic.

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

Cloud computing looks to maximize resource use and isolation comes always at a cost, leaving few resources for the actual desired computation.

The Cloud Security Ecosystem Technical, Legal, Business and Management Issues

In both these examples, the conception of "possible consent" abstracts from actual desires individual citizens have.

SEP

This is because dispositions are sufficient, and actual desires not necessary, in order to explain why somebody would be motivated under counterfactual conditions.

SEP

Many proponents of the maximizing approach suggest that an agent's actual desires should be laundered somewhat before the demand to maximize is applied.

SEP

Under unknown CEM, consider the error between the actual desired spreading code vector c1 and its presumed value c ^ 1, c ^ 1 = c 1 + Δ e, (8).

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "actual desire" to emphasize the genuine and heartfelt nature of a wish or motivation, distinguishing it from superficial or forced intentions.

Common error

Avoid using "actual desire" when you mean to convey a desire that is merely stated or outwardly shown. "Actual desire" implies a deeper, more genuine feeling.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "actual desire" functions as a noun phrase, where 'actual' modifies 'desire'. It typically serves to emphasize the genuineness and sincerity of a feeling or motivation, as seen in Ludwig's examples where the phrase contrasts true motivations with superficial ones.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Science

43%

Formal & Business

2%

Less common in

Academia

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "actual desire" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase to emphasize the genuineness of a wish or motivation. Ludwig highlights its acceptability and broad applicability, with frequent occurrences in News & Media and Scientific contexts. When using this phrase, ensure that you are conveying a truly heartfelt feeling, distinguishing it from superficial or assumed desires. As seen on Ludwig, understanding the nuance of "actual desire" can enhance the precision and impact of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

genuine longing

Emphasizes a deep and heartfelt wish.

sincere wish

Implies a heartfelt and earnest desire.

real intention

Highlights a firm and sincere plan.

earnest motivation

Stresses the serious and determined drive behind an action.

true aspiration

Focuses on a high-reaching goal or ambition.

intrinsic motivation

Focuses on internal rather than external desires or reasons.

authentic yearning

Conveys a strong feeling of wanting something, often something difficult to obtain.

palpable craving

Highlights a strong and easily noticeable desire.

profound appetite

Suggests a deep and intense desire, often for something specific.

heartfelt inclination

Suggests a natural tendency or leaning towards something desired.

FAQs

How can I use "actual desire" in a sentence?

You can use "actual desire" to emphasize the genuineness of a feeling. For example, "Despite the risks, he pursued his dreams with "actual desire"".

What's the difference between ""actual desire"" and "expressed desire"?

"Actual desire" refers to a genuine and heartfelt feeling, while "expressed desire" is a stated or outwardly shown wish, which may or may not reflect true feelings.

Which phrase is more suitable, ""actual desire"" or "strong desire"?

"Actual desire" emphasizes genuineness, while "strong desire" emphasizes intensity. The better choice depends on whether you want to highlight the sincerity or the intensity of the feeling.

What can I say instead of ""actual desire""?

You can use alternatives like "genuine longing", "real intention", or "true aspiration" depending on the specific context.