had every intention of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had every intention of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a strong desire or plan to do something in the past. Example: "She had every intention of attending the meeting, but an emergency came up."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

His team's general manager, Jay Frye, said the team had "every intention" of getting a deal completed quickly.

The New York Times - Sports

We had every intention of continuing that".

The New York Times - Sports

"He had every intention of giving me back that $11".

The New York Times

Amit had every intention of doing just that.

The New York Times - Health

"From Day 1, we had every intention of inviting Barry".

The New York Times - Sports

He was first a pharmacist, and had every intention of practicing in his field.

The New York Times

I am convinced he had every intention of paying everybody back.

The New York Times - Magazine

"Game 5, I had every intention of being there," Victorino said.

The New York Times - Sports

Jim: I had just made this promise to myself and had every intention of keeping it.

The New York Times

Writer marvelled at people, newly arrived from England, who had every intention of remaining forever.

The New Yorker

Mr. Ticktin said he had every intention of continuing to challenge Bank of America foreclosures.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had every intention of" to clearly express a past plan or desire that may or may not have been fulfilled. It adds a layer of commitment to the statement.

Common error

Avoid using "have every intention of" when referring to the past; the correct form is "had every intention of". For present or future intentions, use "have every intention of" or "has every intention of", depending on the subject.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had every intention of" functions as a verbal phrase expressing a strong commitment or plan that existed in the past. It indicates a prior determination to perform a certain action, as evidenced by examples found by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

86%

Wiki

3%

Science

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had every intention of" is a common and grammatically correct way to express a past intention or plan. As shown by Ludwig, it is frequently used in news and media contexts and conveys a sense of strong commitment. While "fully intended to" is a more formal alternative, the key is to use the correct tense to avoid errors. It’s important to be mindful when using related phrases because some alternatives, like "was going to", carry a subtly different meaning. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase is usable in written English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fully intended to

Slightly more formal and direct, focusing on the intent itself.

meant to

More concise and common, implying a pre-existing plan.

planned to

Highlights the planning aspect, less emphasis on determination.

was going to

Indicates a future action in the past, not necessarily a firm intention.

had every expectation of

Focuses on anticipating a certain outcome, rather than a deliberate action.

was determined to

Emphasizes resolve and commitment more strongly.

resolved to

A formal alternative, also highlighting strong determination.

aimed to

Suggests a goal or objective, less about the strength of intention.

proposed to

More formal; implies a deliberate plan or suggestion.

contemplated

Indicates thinking about something, not necessarily a firm plan.

FAQs

How can I use "had every intention of" in a sentence?

Use "had every intention of" to describe a past plan or desire. For example, "She "had every intention of" attending the meeting, but something came up".

What's a more formal way to say "had every intention of"?

A more formal alternative to "had every intention of" is "fully intended to". This phrase emphasizes the deliberate nature of the intention.

Is it correct to say "has every intention of" if referring to a future plan?

Yes, "has every intention of" is correct when referring to a present or future plan, for a singular subject. For example, "He "has every intention of" finishing the project on time".

What is the difference between "had every intention of" and "was going to"?

"Had every intention of" implies a stronger commitment and deliberate plan than "was going to", which simply indicates a future action in the past. The former emphasizes the strength of the prior intention.