are designed to

USAGE SUMMARY

"are designed to" is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
It is used to describe the purpose of something, or to talk about a specific goal. For example: "These educational materials are designed to help children learn valuable scientific principles."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

These disasters are designed to be manageable.

The New Yorker

The streets are designed to be walkable.

The New York Times

They are "designed" to have children?

The New Yorker

SunBrite TVs are designed to work outside.

The New York Times - Tech

Rehearsals are designed to accommodate parenting duties.

The New York Times

They are designed to show.

The Guardian - Books

Clues are designed to mislead.

The New York Times - Travel

People are designed to endure acute stress.

The New York Times - Health

Medical parks are designed to be different.

The New York Times

We are designed to do it.

The Guardian - Tech

They are designed to be perfect.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "are designed to", ensure that the purpose is clearly stated and aligns logically with the subject's features or characteristics. For instance, "These brakes are designed to provide maximum stopping power in wet conditions."

Common error

Avoid overuse of passive voice with "are designed to". Instead of saying "Mistakes are designed to be avoided", a more direct approach is "Design systems to minimize errors".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "are designed to" functions as a connector of purpose, indicating the intended function or objective of something. It often appears in declarative sentences to explain why something was created or how it is intended to be used, as highlighted by Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Science

23%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Huffington Post

4%

Vice

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "are designed to" serves as a crucial tool for explicating purpose and intent. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and widely employed, particularly in news and media, as well as scientific contexts. When crafting content, remember to use the phrase to clearly articulate the intended function of a subject, avoiding passive constructions for stronger clarity. Consider alternatives such as "are intended for" or "serve the function of" in formal writing. Mastering this phrase will enhance clarity and precision in your communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

are intended for

Replaces "designed" with "intended", focusing on the purpose for which something was created.

are created for the purpose of

Emphasizes the reason behind the creation, adding detail and formality.

are built to

Implies a structured construction towards a specific end.

serve the function of

Focuses on the role or action that something performs, rather than its design.

have been made to

Highlights the making or manufacturing aspect with a specified goal.

are engineered for

Uses a more technical word, suggesting a precise build process with a specific target.

are purposed to

A less common but direct synonym, focusing on the intended objective.

are geared towards

Suggests an adjustment or alignment towards a specific aim.

are structured to

Highlights the specific arrangement in place to meet a specific intention.

aim to

A shorter version that puts emphasis on the action and objective.

FAQs

How do I use "are designed to" in a sentence?

Use "are designed to" to specify the purpose or function of something. For example, "These tools are designed to make the task easier".

What's a formal alternative to "are designed to"?

In formal writing, consider using phrases like "are intended for" or "serve the function of" to convey the same meaning with a more sophisticated tone.

Is it better to use active or passive voice with "are designed to"?

While "are designed to" is inherently passive, clarity often benefits from structuring the sentence actively when possible. Instead of "The program is designed to be user-friendly", you could say "We designed the program to be user-friendly".

What can I say instead of "are designed to"?

Depending on the context, you could use "are built to", "are engineered for", or simply "aim to" to express the intended purpose.