an array of purposes

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an array of purposes" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a variety of different goals or functions that something may serve. Example: "The new software was designed with an array of purposes in mind, catering to both novice and advanced users."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Animal studies can serve an array of purposes and have conventionally been employed to evaluate the pharmacology, toxicology and mechanisms of action for therapeutics, as well as providing insights into in vivo efficacy and safety.

Critical Care

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

In addition, it is clear that such data could have an array of 'secondary' purposes, including use off-line for improving scheduling efficiency and for automatic performance monitoring, thus reducing or removing the need for manual on-street surveys.

Transportation Research Part C: Emerging Technologies

They film the games for an array of future purposes such as documenting the history of the sport.

The New York Times

While television networks focus on the live events each week, their division films the games — yes, much is still on actual 16-millimeter film — for an array of future purposes.

The New York Times

The Chinese of the Tang period employed complex chemical formulas for an array of different purposes, often found through experiments of alchemy.

Wikipedia

The most notorious "Top Model" moment — immortalized, with so many others, in an array of multi-purpose memes — took place in an episode aptly titled "The Girl Who Pushes Tyra Over the Edge".

The New Yorker

Facebook Creative Labs will carry out the strategy Mark Zuckerberg discussed on yesterday's earnings call of conquering mobile with an array of single-purpose experiences rather than cramming more functionality into Facebook's core app.

TechCrunch

And, (5) simple plantation forestry which has a narrow and intensive management focus on producing a forest crop for a limited array of purposes, may not meet societal demands for a range of outputs from plantations in addition to wood and pulp.

Biological Conservation

An SAB Miller project in Colombia called Oportunidades Bavaria (named after the local beer, called Bavaria) supports small-scale retailers with loans of about $100 to $1,000 for a broad array of purposes: fixing up or expanding a store, sending a child to college or even funeral expenses for a relative.

The Guardian

Politically, it's much easier for policymakers to shrink a block grant that supports a vast array of purposes spread across 50 states -- and claim that states can compensate by improving efficiency or rooting out "waste, fraud and abuse" -- than to cut specific types of assistance for specific groups of people such as low-income children, seniors, or people with disabilities.

Huffington Post

And they have been used for a wide array of purposes.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "an array of purposes", ensure the context clearly outlines or implies what these purposes are. This provides clarity and prevents ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "an array of purposes" as a vague placeholder. If you can't specify at least some of the key purposes, consider using a more general term or revising the sentence to be more descriptive.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an array of purposes" functions as a prepositional phrase, typically modifying a noun or verb to describe the intended uses or goals. As noted by Ludwig AI, it's deemed grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

30%

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "an array of purposes" is a prepositional phrase used to indicate multiple uses, goals, or functions. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and versatile, appearing across different types of writing. While alternatives like "a variety of aims" or "multiple objectives" exist, "an array of purposes" provides a broader sense of versatility. When using this phrase, ensure the context offers some insight into these purposes to maintain clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a multitude of uses

Replaces "array" with "multitude", emphasizing a large number, and replaces "purposes" with "uses", focusing on practical applications.

a range of functions

Substitutes "array" with "range", suggesting a spectrum, and replaces "purposes" with "functions", highlighting specific operations.

a variety of aims

Changes "array" to "variety", indicating diversity, and replaces "purposes" with "aims", emphasizing goals or intentions.

multiple objectives

Simplifies the phrase by using "multiple" instead of "an array of", and "objectives" instead of "purposes", focusing on specific targets.

several goals

Replaces "an array of" with "several", indicating a number greater than two, and replaces "purposes" with "goals", focusing on desired outcomes.

diverse applications

Uses "diverse" to emphasize variety and replaces "purposes" with "applications", highlighting practical uses in different contexts.

varied reasons

Focuses on the motivations or justifications behind actions, using "varied" to indicate differences in reasons.

various intentions

Highlights different motivations or plans, using "various" to show multiple intentions.

multifaceted roles

Emphasizes the different aspects or duties that something may fulfill, using "multifaceted" to show many roles.

a spectrum of uses

Suggests a continuum of different applications, highlighting the breadth of potential uses.

FAQs

How can I use "an array of purposes" in a sentence?

You can use "an array of purposes" to describe something that serves multiple goals or functions. For example, "The new software was designed with "an array of purposes", catering to both novice and advanced users."

What are some alternatives to "an array of purposes"?

Alternatives include "a variety of aims", "multiple objectives", or "a range of functions" depending on the specific context.

Is it better to list the purposes instead of using "an array of purposes"?

In many cases, listing specific purposes provides more clarity and impact. However, "an array of purposes" is useful when you want to convey a general sense of versatility without detailing every single purpose.

What is the difference between "an array of purposes" and "a single purpose"?

"An array of purposes" indicates that something has multiple uses or goals, while "a single purpose" suggests that something is designed or used for only one specific reason or function.