implied intention

USAGE SUMMARY

"implied intention" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when discussing something that suggests a purpose or goal without being explicitly stated. For example, "The implied intention behind her words was to encourage him to take action." Alternative expressions include "suggested purpose" and "inferred aim."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

In addition, in terms of weight maintenance, the word "refusal" was removed since it implied intention on the part of a patient and was difficult for clinicians to evaluate.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Given that the processes that denote action in either of the two aforementioned Transitivity systems include actions that imply intention as well as a lack thereof (i.e. bodily reactions), there seems to be no reason why a separate category is actually needed to represent many of the physiological and psychological behaviours.

Functional Linguistics

However, the use of the word 'postpone' still implies intention on the part of the patient (the Oxford English Dictionary entry for postpone states: 'cause or arrange for (something) to take place at a time later than that first scheduled'), which we know is often not the experience for patients in reality.

BMC Health Services Research

Since the type of purpose implies an intention behind an action, it is an effective feature to distinguish it from the other types as shown in (8).

Lingua Sinica

放學 V1)回家(V2)          TimeBefore-TimeAfter fàngxué__huíjiā leave-school__go-home go home after school     Since the type of purpose implies an intention behind an action, it is an effective feature to distinguish it from the other types as shown in (8).

Lingua Sinica

The conduct of research does not imply an intention to deploy geoengineering".

The Guardian

That implies an intention to consolidate the occupation, thus withdrawing all hope from Palestinian moderates.

The Economist

A programme note by Alan Sinfield implies the intention is to heighten awareness of "the general instability of gender roles in our time".

The Guardian

Again, the rationale is not ridiculous: a lie is more grave than an untruth, which can be merely a mistaken conviction, and it implies conscious intention to deceive rather than inward-turning self-deception.

The New Yorker

The former refers to a reactive behavior, oriented to self-preservation (triggered when feeling threatened), while the latter implies the intention to harm others.

Psicologia: Reflexão e Crítica

I wonder if this implies that intention works best when we believe in our own capacities to get better.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "implied intention" when you want to highlight that a purpose or goal is not explicitly stated but can be reasonably inferred from the context or actions.

Common error

Avoid using "implied intention" when the intention is clearly and directly stated. The strength of this expression lies in its subtle conveyance of meaning, which is lost when the intention is overt.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "implied intention" functions as a noun phrase. It typically acts as the subject or object of a sentence, describing a purpose or goal that is not directly stated but is understood from context. Ludwig AI highlights that this phrase often appears in discussions about communication and interpretation.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

34%

News & Media

32%

Formal & Business

11%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

6%

Wiki

6%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "implied intention" refers to a goal or purpose that is not explicitly stated but can be inferred from context or actions. Ludwig indicates this expression is grammatically sound and usable, though relatively rare in occurrence. The analysis suggests the phrase is most often found in scientific, news, and formal business contexts. Due to its subtlety, careful usage is recommended; it is crucial that the intention be genuinely inferable to avoid misinterpretation. Alternatives like "suggested intention" or "implicit intention" can provide similar nuance. Overall, while not a frequent expression, "implied intention" serves a valuable purpose in articulating unspoken objectives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

suggested intention

This alternative focuses on the act of hinting at an intention rather than stating it directly.

implicit intention

This alternative emphasizes that the intention is understood without being openly expressed.

tacit intention

This alternative highlights the unspoken or unstated nature of the intention.

unstated intention

This alternative focuses on the intention not being explicitly mentioned.

unspoken aim

This alternative uses "aim" to replace "intention", emphasizing the goal-oriented nature of the implication.

inferred purpose

This alternative highlights the listener or reader drawing a conclusion about the purpose.

deduced goal

This alternative uses "goal" and emphasizes the logical conclusion drawn about the objective.

presumed objective

This alternative suggests an assumption about the objective based on indirect evidence.

hinted objective

This alternative emphasizes the indirect nature of communicating the objective.

conveyed aim

This alternative highlights the indirect transmission of the aim or goal.

FAQs

How can I use "implied intention" in a sentence?

You can use "implied intention" to describe a goal or purpose that is suggested without being directly stated. For example, "The politician's speech had an "implied intention" to reassure voters."

What are some alternatives to "implied intention"?

Alternatives to "implied intention" include "suggested intention", "implicit intention", or "unstated intention", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to use "implied intention" or "explicit intention"?

The choice between "implied intention" and "explicit intention" depends on whether the intention is communicated indirectly or directly. Use "implied intention" when the intention is suggested, and "explicit intention" when it is clearly stated.

What's the difference between "implied intention" and "underlying intention"?

"Implied intention" refers to an intention that is suggested without being directly expressed, while "underlying intention" refers to a deeper, perhaps less obvious, motivation behind an action or statement.