are designed to turn

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "are designed to turn" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing the purpose or function of an object, system, or process that aims to change or convert something. Example: "These new software features are designed to turn complex data into easily understandable visualizations."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

They are designed to turn on a sixpence.

The Guardian

"All these things are designed to turn a business complex into a community," said Ms. Scott at Hewitt Associates.

The New York Times

However, depending on the process conditions, electrical heaters are designed to turn off automatically when the temperature reaches a set point.

Journal of Loss Prevention in the Process Industries

Civil society organisations, national and international, fear that UK proposals to neuter the court are designed to turn the European Court of Human Rights from a strong, independent and successful supervisory mechanism to a toothless advisor.

The Guardian

Buy now 3. Paradigm Millenia CT: £799, Paradigm Expensive, but beautifully formed, these are designed to turn your computer or ­­­­­­­TV into a home cinema without taking up much space.

Independent

The budget measures are designed to turn a structural deficit in current spending of 4.8% of GDP into a surplus of 0.3% in four years, holding out the prospect of pre-election tax cuts if the economy performs as the chancellor expects.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

It was designed to turn a weakness into a strength.

The Economist

It is a room that is designed to turn women into duchesses and men into gentlemen.

Independent

Exon skipping, in a sense, is designed to turn Duchenne into Becker muscular dystrophy.

The New York Times - Health

The rooftops will be designed to turn rain into drinking water.

The New York Times

MIMO is designed to turn this inherent problem with wireless into an advantage.

MIT Technology Review

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "are designed to turn", ensure the sentence clearly states what the subject is intended to change or transform into. Clarity improves readability.

Common error

Avoid using "are designed to turn" without a clear indication of the intended outcome. For instance, instead of saying "The measures are designed to turn", specify "The measures are designed to turn a deficit into a surplus".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "are designed to turn" functions as a connector indicating purpose or intent. It highlights that something has been specifically created or arranged to cause a transformation or change. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "are designed to turn" serves to explain the purpose of a design or system, emphasizing its ability to transform something. Grammatically correct and versatile, it appears in a range of contexts, including News & Media, Science, and Formal writing, as confirmed by Ludwig. Related phrases offer subtle shifts in emphasis, and being mindful of usage nuances, especially in specifying the target of transformation, ensures clear and effective communication. Ludwig examples provide further validation of its versatility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

are intended to transform

Emphasizes a complete change in form or nature.

are meant to convert

Highlights the act of changing something into a different form or state.

are engineered to switch

Focuses on a precise, technical change of state.

are built to alter

Stresses a deliberate construction for the purpose of change.

are constructed to modify

Highlights a structural design aimed at making adjustments.

are created to shift

Implies a change in position or direction.

are fashioned to transmute

Suggests a more profound or magical transformation.

are formed to invert

Emphasizes reversing the order or position of something.

are molded to evolve

Highlights gradual development or change over time.

are shaped to reverse

Focuses on changing to the opposite direction or state.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "are designed to turn" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, you might use phrases like "are intended to transform", "are engineered to convert", or "are formulated to alter depending on the specific context.

What is the difference between "are designed to turn" and "are intended to turn"?

While both phrases convey purpose, "are designed to turn" emphasizes the planning and construction aspect, whereas "are intended to turn" focuses more on the desired outcome or goal.

Is it grammatically correct to say "is designed to turn" instead of "are designed to turn"?

The correct form depends on the subject's number. Use "is designed to turn" for singular subjects (e.g., "The device is designed to turn...") and "are designed to turn" for plural subjects (e.g., "The features are designed to turn...").

What words usually follow "are designed to turn"?

Typically, you'll find a noun or noun phrase specifying what is being transformed (e.g., "are designed to turn rain into drinking water") or an adverb indicating how something changes.