done on purpose

USAGE SUMMARY

"done on purpose" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to an action taken with intention and deliberation. For example: "The boy smashed his toy car, but it was done on purpose - he was trying to fix it."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But Mr Mulvaney said during a press briefing on Tuesday that the alleged gimmick was done "on purpose".

BBC

This was done "on purpose to exclude from the Constitution the idea that there could be property in man".

Huffington Post

A lot of this is for a reason, and done on purpose; one obvious purpose is to expose bad behavior; we are all children, in a sense.

WikiHow

"It was done on purpose.

The New York Times

It can also be done on purpose.

Independent

That was definitely not done on purpose".

The New York Times - Sports

It's being done on purpose.

The Guardian

This is done on purpose.

The New Yorker

"None of this was done on purpose.

The Guardian

But none was done on purpose.

The New York Times - Sports

But it wasn't done on purpose!" The smile stays intact.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "done on purpose" to clearly indicate that an action was intentional and not accidental, especially when clarifying misunderstandings or assigning responsibility.

Common error

Avoid using "done on purpose" in overly passive constructions that obscure who performed the action. For instance, instead of "It was done on purpose", specify "They did it on purpose" for clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "done on purpose" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb to indicate that an action was performed intentionally. It clarifies the manner in which the action was carried out, emphasizing that it was not accidental. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this is a correct and widely used English expression.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Wiki

5%

Science

5%

Less common in

Academia

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "done on purpose" is a common and grammatically sound adverbial phrase used to indicate that an action was intentional. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is widely accepted in English writing. It is most frequently found in News & Media but also used across multiple domains. When using this phrase, ensure it's clear who performed the action. For alternatives, consider "intentional", "deliberate", or "by design" to vary your language.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

on purpose

A more succinct way of expressing the same idea as the query.

purposely

A direct synonym of "on purpose", conveying the same meaning of intent.

deliberate

Similar to "intentional", but suggests a more careful and considered action.

intentional

A single-word adjective emphasizing that something was intended or planned.

by design

Highlights that something was made or arranged according to a plan.

with intent

Focuses specifically on the intention behind an action, rather than the action itself.

calculated

Implies that an action was carefully planned to achieve a specific outcome, potentially with self-serving intentions.

knowingly

Emphasizes that the person was aware of what they were doing and the potential consequences.

premeditated

Suggests an action was planned far in advance, implying a high degree of intent, often used in legal contexts.

designedly

A formal way to indicate that something was done with a specific intention or design in mind.

FAQs

How can I use "done on purpose" in a sentence?

You can use "done on purpose" to indicate that an action was intentional rather than accidental. For example: "The mistake wasn't an accident; it was "done on purpose"".

What are some alternatives to saying "done on purpose"?

Alternatives include "intentional", "deliberate", "calculated", or "by design", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is there a difference between "on purpose" and "done on purpose"?

While both phrases convey intentionality, "done on purpose" explicitly refers to a completed action carried out intentionally. "On purpose" is more general and can describe the intent behind an action, whether completed or not.

When is it appropriate to use "done on purpose" in writing?

It's appropriate when you need to emphasize that an action was not a mistake or coincidence, but rather a conscious decision. Use it when clarifying intent or assigning accountability.