had high intentions

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had high intentions" is not commonly used in written English and may sound awkward.
It can be used when discussing someone's aspirations or goals, but it is better to use it in a context that clarifies the meaning. Example: "Despite the challenges, she had high intentions of making a positive impact in her community."

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

With respect to actual behaviour, those doing sufficient exercise generally had strong intentions but 57% of those not doing adequate PA still had high intentions to do so.

BMC Public Health

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

The specificity of 46% indicated that even women who were not tested had high intention to test.

BMC Health Services Research

As shown in Table 6, sensitivity was 67% indicating that the majority of the women who tested for HIV had high intention to do so.

BMC Health Services Research

GPs had high intention to approach eligible patients with acute LBP into the trial (item 2), and they indicated they did treat some patients with acute LBP during the recruitment period (item 3).

BMC Medical Research Methodology

In general, the women attending both private- and public health care facilities had high intention, favourable attitude, perceived strong normative pressure, and perceived less barriers to undertake HIV testing.

BMC Health Services Research

In other words, even in the absence of a clear indication to prescribe HT (for example, severe hot flashes) or a clear indication by a woman that she would like to use HT, at that the time this study was conducted, some physicians had high intention to do so.

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

Mr. Sorkin clearly had higher intentions.

The New York Times

Males, as compared with females, had higher intentions to drink walk and lower perceptions of risk regarding drink walking.

Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour

There was a clear trend that patients that perceived more benefits and fewer barriers also had higher intentions to participate in TSGs post discharge (Table 2).

BMC Health Services Research

Although few participants planned to continue work in rural, underserved communities (n = 171 out of 657 responses, 25%), those serving in a rural facility during the community service year had higher intentions of continuing rural work.

Human Resources for Health

With regard to habit, mothers had higher intentions to let their daughters receive the HPV vaccination if they perceived getting the vaccination as something they did automatically or without thinking.

BMC Public Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using more direct and common alternatives like "aimed high" or "aspired greatly" for clearer and more impactful writing. While "had high intentions" is understandable, it can sometimes sound awkward or less natural.

Common error

Avoid constructing sentences where the subject is unclear. Instead of "Mistakes had high intentions of being avoided", write "We intended to avoid mistakes" for a more active and direct statement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had high intentions" functions as a verbal phrase indicating a past state of aspiration or purpose. Ludwig examples show this phrase used to describe goals related to health behaviors, professional conduct, or general achievements.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

66%

News & Media

16%

Formal & Business

16%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had high intentions" is a grammatically acceptable phrase used to describe past aspirations. However, Ludwig AI suggests that its usage can sound somewhat awkward, with clearer alternatives like ""aspired greatly"" or ""aimed high"" often being preferred. Predominantly found in scientific and news contexts, the phrase serves to explain someone's past aims but should be used judiciously to ensure clarity and impact. When writing, consider the specific context to avoid overusing passive voice and choose more direct alternatives when appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

aimed high

This is a shorter, more direct way of saying someone had ambitious goals.

aspired greatly

This alternative replaces "had high intentions" with a more concise verb phrase emphasizing aspiration.

set lofty goals

This phrase highlights the challenging nature of the intentions.

possessed strong ambitions

This alternative uses "ambitions" directly, highlighting the strength of their goals.

had ambitious plans

Focuses on the concrete plans rather than the abstract intention.

intended to achieve much

This alternative emphasizes the scope of what the person wanted to accomplish.

was highly aspirational

This alternative shifts the focus to the person's character, describing them as highly aspirational.

harbored grand designs

This alternative suggests elaborate and ambitious plans, carrying a slightly more formal tone.

were strongly determined

Emphasizes resolve and commitment rather than the specific goals.

were deeply committed

The focus here is on the emotional investment rather than explicit intention.

FAQs

What does "had high intentions" mean?

The phrase "had high intentions" means someone aimed to achieve something significant or had strong aspirations and goals.

Is "had high intentions" grammatically correct?

Yes, "had high intentions" is grammatically correct, but according to Ludwig AI it isn't commonly used and might sound awkward. There are more common and natural alternatives to express the same idea.

What are some alternatives to "had high intentions"?

You can use alternatives like "aspired greatly", "aimed high", or "possessed strong ambitions".

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "had high intentions"?

It's appropriate when you want to emphasize someone's aspirations, but consider if a more direct phrase like "set lofty goals" would be more impactful.