as it wanted

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "as it wanted" is not correct in standard written English.
It may be intended to convey a sense of desire or intention, but it lacks clarity and proper grammatical structure. Example: "The project did not turn out as it wanted, leading to several revisions."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

One pup was allowed to eat as much as it wanted, while its partner received 25% less than the amount the first pup had consumed on the previous day.

The Economist

In the past, the world's most populous nation was reluctant to curb emissions as it wanted to lift its people out of poverty.

Huffington Post

The World Bank refused as it wanted total control of its money.

The Guardian

The loss of Sims, who played six minutes in the first half, made it hard for Georgetown to run its offense as crisply as it wanted.

The New York Times - Sports

For that first decade of the century, dance music had its chance to be as experimental as it wanted, and the sounds coming out of south Florida made their way all around the country and the globe.

Vice

Interestingly, while Atlas managed to line up capital commitments as the year came to a close, another well-known firm that apparently didn't get as far along as it wanted, August Capital, has put a pin in its fundraising process, according to Axios, which suggests that infighting played a role.

TechCrunch

However, the Hawaiian monarchy had its own reasons to improve relations with the United States, as it wanted a new trade treaty.

The New York Times

price of sixty-eight dollars, but not as many as it wanted.

The New Yorker

Rutgers slowed the game down as it wanted and did not trail in the first half.

The New York Times - Sports

Portugal, whose deficits have also spooked investors, suddenly had trouble raising as much short-term credit as it wanted.

The New York Times

Cablevision then joined the cable cooperative, which allowed it to show the channel as it wanted: on a sports tier.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing intentions, ensure the phrase clearly indicates the subject's desire and follows standard English grammar conventions.

Common error

A common mistake is using "as it wanted" without considering proper verb agreement. To correct this, restructure the sentence to include a verb that agrees with the subject and expresses the intended meaning more clearly.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as it wanted" functions as an adverbial clause, modifying a verb by describing the manner in which an action is performed, or intended to be performed. However, according to Ludwig, this phrase is grammatically questionable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "as it wanted" is frequently used, especially in news and media, it is considered grammatically incorrect in standard written English. Ludwig AI flags this, advising the use of more grammatically sound alternatives such as "as it wished" or "as it desired". Its function is to express intention or desire, but writers should aim for more precise and formal wording to ensure clarity and grammatical accuracy. Therefore, while the phrase's communicative purpose is clear, its use should be approached with caution, particularly in formal contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

as it desired

Replaces "wanted" with "desired", offering a more formal and grammatically sound alternative.

as it wished

Substitutes "wanted" with "wished", providing a more elegant and grammatically accepted option.

as it pleased

Replaces "wanted" with "pleased", implying a sense of satisfaction and grammatical correctness.

in the way it wanted

Adds "in the way" for better grammatical structure, clarifying that the manner is according to its desire.

to the extent it wanted

Specifies the degree or limit of desire, enhancing clarity and grammatical accuracy.

as much as it liked

Replaces "wanted" with "liked", creating a more casual but still grammatically correct phrase.

to the degree it desired

Specifies the amount or level to which something was desired, providing clearer meaning.

in the manner it wished

Clarifies the means by which something was wished, adding formality and grammatical correctness.

as it had hoped

Shifts the focus to past hopes rather than present desires, offering a different nuance.

according to its desires

Uses a prepositional phrase to express alignment with desires, enhancing formality.

FAQs

What are some grammatically correct alternatives to "as it wanted"?

You can use alternatives like "as it wished", "as it desired", or "as it pleased" for grammatically sound options.

When is it appropriate to use "as it wanted"?

While "as it wanted" appears in some contexts, it is generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard written English. It's best to use more precise and grammatically correct alternatives.

How does "as it wanted" differ from "as it wished" in meaning?

"As it wished" and "as it wanted" both convey a sense of desire, but "as it wished" is more grammatically accepted and often implies a more thoughtful or considered desire compared to the more direct "as it wanted".

Is "as it wanted" considered formal or informal language?

"As it wanted" is generally considered informal due to its grammatical issues. For formal contexts, using alternatives like "as it desired" provides a more professional tone.