for improper purposes

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "for improper purposes" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe actions or intentions that are unethical, illegal, or not appropriate for the situation. Example: "The funds were misallocated for improper purposes, leading to a significant loss for the organization."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

Could names be lifted for improper purposes?

The New York Times

There is nothing illegal in this but some have used this address for improper purposes.

The Guardian - Business

This exposure may discourage those who would use money for improper purposes either before or after the election.

The New York Times

The issue with prosecutorial abuse is that the punishments being meted out are wildly disproportionate to the alleged acts when the trivial harms of the acts are considered and/or that the prosecution is being pursued for improper purposes.

The Guardian - Opinion

Also last week, the parent union served notice to a 130,000-member health care local in Northern California, threatening to place it into trusteeship because it set up a fund that the parent union says was used for improper purposes.

The New York Times

"We have had a number of instances over the years," he explained, "where inevitably, of course, municipal employees, state employees have used computers and the like for improper purposes and there is an appropriate sanction for that and there should be".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

No one asserted that they were hidden for any improper purposes.

The New Yorker

Penalty for improper use, it warned.

Vice

Its efforts to get the list sooner were delayed when CBS filed suit arguing that the group might use the list for political and "improper" purposes.

Los Angeles Times

According to HP's claim, questionable transactions with a small group of resellers were designed "for the improper purpose of providing a pretext for the inappropriate or premature recognition of revenue".

The Guardian - Business

Instead, the SEC found that the developers improperly transferred $20.5 million of investor funds for various undisclosed and improper purposes, including funding purchases with respect to two unrelated real estate projects.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "for improper purposes" consider rephrasing with a more precise term that describes the impropriety, such as "fraudulent", "unethical", or "illegal", as appropriate. This improves clarity and impact.

Common error

Avoid using "for improper purposes" as a catch-all phrase without specifying the nature of the impropriety. This can weaken your argument and leave room for misinterpretation. Provide specific details or examples.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "for improper purposes" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate the reason or intention behind an action. It describes the aim or goal of something being done inappropriately. Ludwig AI confirms this usage in its examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Academia

33%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Science

8%

Formal & Business

8%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "for improper purposes" is a grammatically sound adverbial phrase used to express disapproval of actions that deviate from ethical, legal, or otherwise accepted standards. While Ludwig AI confirms the phrase is correct and usable in written English, it appears with relative infrequency compared to other similar expressions. Its usage is most prominent in News & Media and Academic contexts, implying a neutral to professional register. To ensure clarity, it's best practice to specify the nature of the impropriety rather than relying on the general term "improper". Alternatives like ""for illicit reasons"" or ""for unethical reasons"" may provide greater precision depending on the specific context. Therefore, while grammatically correct, careful consideration should be given to the context and potential for ambiguity when using the phrase "for improper purposes".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

for illicit reasons

Emphasizes the unlawful nature of the reasons.

for unethical reasons

Highlights the lack of moral principles behind the purposes.

for inappropriate reasons

Stresses the unsuitability of the reasons in a specific context.

with malicious intent

Focuses on the harmful and deliberate nature of the intention.

with ulterior motives

Suggests hidden and possibly questionable intentions.

for corrupt practices

Specifically relates to dishonest or fraudulent actions.

to abuse power

Emphasizes the misuse of authority.

to exploit resources

Focuses on taking unfair advantage of available resources.

with fraudulent schemes

Specifically indicates deceptive plans or strategies.

for unlawful gains

Highlights the illegal profits or advantages sought.

FAQs

How can I use "for improper purposes" in a sentence?

You can use "for improper purposes" to describe situations where something is used in an unethical, illegal, or otherwise inappropriate way. For example: "The funds were used for improper purposes."

What are some alternatives to "for improper purposes"?

Some alternatives include "for illicit reasons", "for unethical reasons", or "for inappropriate reasons", depending on the specific context.

Is it better to use a more specific phrase instead of "for improper purposes"?

In many cases, using a more specific phrase can provide clarity. For example, instead of "for improper purposes", you might say "for fraudulent activities" or "for personal gain".

What's the difference between "for improper purposes" and "with ulterior motives"?

"For improper purposes" generally describes the use of something, while "with ulterior motives" describes the hidden intentions behind an action. They both suggest something is not right, but focus on different aspects.