are designed to spread

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "are designed to spread" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing the purpose or intention behind something that facilitates dissemination or distribution. Example: "These educational programs are designed to spread awareness about environmental issues."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

His campaign attacks are designed to spread falsehood and cynicism".

The New York Times

The belts inflate less explosively than a traditional air bag and are designed to spread the force of a crash over an area of the body five times as large as regular seat belts do, Ford said.

The New York Times

Such a collision is "statistically very unlikely to occur," Mr. Parker said, because both existing wireless LAN's and forthcoming Bluetooth technologies are designed to spread their signals across the 2.4-gigahertz spectrum before joining again at the receiving end.

The New York Times - Tech

A pair of new Web sites are designed to spread the Trussardi message, yet the brand's creative director, Milan Vukmirovic, still seemed to be searching for a clear fashion identity.

The New York Times

Although seismic crews now conduct surveys with vibrating trucks instead of detonated dynamite, their convoys, despite wide, tanklike treads that are designed to spread the weight of 10-ton vehicles, still can leave persistent scars even when traveling on frozen ground.

The New York Times - Science

The report said that "25% of new worms are designed to spread via USB devices.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

The bag is designed to spread out in flight to a diameter of about 10 inches and hit with about twice the force of a major league fastball.

The New York Times - Health

Dushman's The Fundamentals of Atomic Physics (1951) was designed to spread an understanding of new developments in the physical sciences.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The government insisted the measures, which had been contained in the Tory manifesto, were designed to spread opportunity and educational excellence to every part of the country so children from every background get the best possible start in life.

The Guardian

As a software designer during the 1980's, Mr. Gelernter developed a programming language known as Linda that was designed to spread computations across hundreds of thousands of computers, harnessing them into one distributed machine.

The New York Times

For one thing, it makes Obama look like a showbiz president: we've all heard the stories, true or not, about the help Zero Dark Thirty might have got, as well as the wholesome, Obamaesque message of ethnic reconciliation that Lincoln was designed to spread.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "are designed to spread", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being spread (e.g., information, influence, disease) and the intended or actual beneficiaries or recipients of this spread.

Common error

Avoid using "are designed to spread" when a more active voice would be clearer and more direct. For example, instead of "The campaign is designed to spread awareness", consider "The campaign aims to spread awareness".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "are designed to spread" functions as a descriptive phrase indicating the intended purpose or function of something. It highlights that a particular entity or action is intentionally structured or planned to facilitate dissemination. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

35%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "are designed to spread" is a descriptive phrase used to convey that something has been intentionally created or modified to disseminate or distribute. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and suitable for diverse contexts. Though relatively uncommon, it frequently appears in news and media, as well as scientific publications. To enhance clarity, ensure you clearly state what is being spread. Consider alternatives like "are intended to disseminate" for more formal settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

are intended to disseminate

Replaces "designed" with "intended" and "spread" with the more formal "disseminate".

are meant to propagate

Uses "meant" instead of "designed" and "propagate" which suggests wider reach than "spread".

are created to distribute

Substitutes "designed" with "created" and "spread" with the more neutral "distribute".

are built to circulate

Employs "built" as a metaphor for design and "circulate" suggesting a more controlled distribution.

are engineered to transmit

Replaces "designed" with "engineered" emphasizing technical precision, and "transmit" highlighting a directed transfer.

are fashioned to diffuse

Uses "fashioned" implying careful crafting and "diffuse" suggesting a gradual spread.

are developed to propagate

Suggests an evolution towards propagation, rather than a specific design for it.

are structured to relay

Implies a network or system is in place with the specific function of relaying something.

aim to disseminate

Simplifies the structure, focusing on the aim or goal of spreading.

serve to spread

Highlights the function or purpose as being to spread, rather than the design.

FAQs

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

This phrase is used to describe something that has been created with the specific intention of distributing or disseminating something. For example: "These measures "are designed to" spread awareness about the importance of recycling".

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

More formal alternatives include phrases like "are intended to disseminate" or "are meant to propagate", which carry a similar meaning but sound more sophisticated.

Is it always necessary to specify what "are designed to spread" refers to?

Clarity is key. While it might be implicitly understood in some contexts, explicitly stating what's intended for distribution typically enhances comprehension. For example, "The application "is designed to spread" virally" leaves no doubt about the objective.

What is the difference between "are designed to spread" and "aim to spread"?

"Are designed to spread" emphasizes the intentional creation or modification for dissemination, whereas "aim to spread" highlights the goal or objective of spreading, regardless of specific design features. The first stresses purpose through design, while the second focuses on the purpose itself.