are designed to protect

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "are designed to protect" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing the purpose or function of an object, system, or policy that aims to provide safety or security. Example: "The new regulations are designed to protect consumers from fraudulent practices in the marketplace."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Civil service protections are designed to protect everyone against favoritism by political officials and politicized agencies.

The Washington Post

Strict state and federal laws are designed to protect them.

The Guardian - Travel

They are designed to protect the integrity of the proceedings".

The New York Times

He developed the company's patented highway cushions, which are designed to protect cars in crashes.

The New York Times

The rules are designed to protect consumers from bad mortgage advice, but recent research by Which ?

The Guardian - Money

University officials say the restrictions on publishing research are designed to protect the company's proprietary information.

The New York Times

ISDS arbitration is beholden to the terms of trade treaties, which are designed to protect investments.

The Guardian

He deplores face visors, which are designed to protect players from eye injury.

The New York Times

The standards applied in Texas are designed to protect the mentally ill, not the mentally retarded.

The New York Times

Both are designed to protect women from the human papillomavirus (HPV), which causes cervical cancer.

The Guardian

This would give anti-dumping duties to the companies that the duties are designed to protect.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the purpose of safety features, use "are designed to protect" to clearly communicate the intended function. For instance, "These helmets are designed to protect athletes from head injuries."

Common error

Avoid using "are designed to protect" in overly simple or obvious scenarios where the protective function is already implied. For example, instead of saying "Umbrellas are designed to protect from rain", opt for a more concise statement like "Umbrellas shield from rain."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "are designed to protect" functions as a connector indicating purpose or intent. As shown by Ludwig AI, this phrase specifies what something is created or intended to defend against. It commonly introduces a clause that explains the reason or goal behind a particular design or feature.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "are designed to protect" serves as a connector to explain the purpose or intent behind a design, system, or policy. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and sees common usage across various fields, including news, science, and business. While adaptable in tone, it is best used to clearly and objectively describe the protective function of something. Alternatives such as "are intended to safeguard" or "are meant to shield" can offer slight variations in emphasis. When writing, ensure the context warrants a clear statement of protective intent, avoiding overuse in obvious situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

are intended to safeguard

Emphasizes the intention behind the design for ensuring safety or security, with a formal tone.

are meant to shield

Highlights the function of providing a barrier or defense against harm.

are created to defend

Focuses on the act of defending against potential threats or attacks.

are built to secure

Implies a strong, reliable construction aimed at ensuring security.

are constructed to guard

Stresses the act of watching over and defending against unwanted intrusions.

serve to safeguard

Highlights the serving purpose of guarding/protecting something.

function to preserve

Emphasizes the preserving purpose of the design.

aim to insulate

Stresses the insulation against negative influences.

work to defend

Focuses on the working aspect of defending.

seek to preserve

Highlights the seeking purpose of the design to keep something safe.

FAQs

How can I use "are designed to protect" in a sentence?

Use "are designed to protect" to describe the intended function of an item or system. For example, "These firewalls are designed to protect the network from cyberattacks".

What phrases are similar to "are designed to protect"?

Alternatives include phrases like "are intended to safeguard", "are meant to shield", or "are created to defend".

Is it better to use "are designed to protect" or "protects against"?

The choice depends on the sentence structure. "Are designed to protect" is suitable when describing the design purpose, while "protects against" is used to describe the action of protecting. For instance, "These walls are designed to protect us from the storm" versus "This wall protects against the storm".

What's the difference between "are designed to protect" and "are intended to protect"?

While similar, "are designed to protect" focuses more on the physical or structural design, while "are intended to protect" emphasizes the planned or purposed outcome. Both phrases can often be used interchangeably.