intelligence purpose

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "intelligence purpose" is not correct in standard written English.
It seems to be a misphrasing and may be intended to convey a specific meaning related to the purpose of intelligence, but it lacks clarity. Example: "The data was collected for intelligence purposes to enhance national security."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

"All of N.S.A.'s work has a foreign intelligence purpose," the spokeswoman added.

The New York Times

"All of NSA's work has a foreign intelligence purpose," the spokeswoman added.

The Guardian

persons," he said, noting that the main protection was that data had to be collected for "a valid foreign intelligence purpose".

The New York Times

While the NSA needs a "foreign intelligence purpose" to start looking at this collected phone numbers, they don't need to have any basis for suspecting you have ties to terrorism.

The Guardian - Opinion

Because the law forbids eavesdroppers from listening to and retaining the conversations of Americans abroad without a demonstrable intelligence purpose, senators on the intelligence and judiciary committees have rightly called for investigations.

The New York Times

Mr. Clapper also insisted that the government "does not unilaterally obtain information from the servers" of telephone and Internet providers, saying that information is turned over only under court order, when there is a "documented, foreign intelligence purpose for acquisition" of the data.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

Steele asked another officer to photograph the corpse for intelligence purposes.

The New Yorker

"Iraq knows they do not serve intelligence purposes, and Iraq should say so," he said.

The New York Times

It's very likely she'll be interviewed... even if just for intelligence purposes".

The Guardian

As my colleague just said, these diplomatic compounds were being used for intelligence purposes.

The Guardian

Scholars and previous government reports had acknowledged the C.I.A.'s use of Nazis for postwar intelligence purposes.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To enhance clarity, replace "intelligence purpose" with descriptive phrases such as "reason for intelligence gathering" or "objective of intelligence operations".

Common error

Avoid using the phrase "intelligence purpose" in generic contexts. Instead, specify the exact type of intelligence or the specific goal the intelligence aims to achieve. For example, use "counter-terrorism intelligence objective" instead of just "intelligence purpose".

Linguistic Context

The phrase, while commonly found in news and media, functions as a noun phrase specifying the reason or intent behind intelligence-related actions. As Ludwig AI points out, the phrase is not correct in standard written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "intelligence purpose" is frequently encountered in news and media, referring to the rationale behind intelligence activities. However, as Ludwig AI highlights, it is not considered grammatically correct in standard written English and lacks clarity. More precise alternatives such as "intelligence objective" or "intelligence aim" are recommended for enhanced clarity and grammatical accuracy. While commonly used, specifying the exact reason for intelligence gathering will strengthen communication, thus making the output easier to understand. In formal contexts, substituting with more specific phrases is advisable for avoiding ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

intelligence objective

Replaces "purpose" with "objective", focusing on a specific, measurable goal of intelligence gathering.

intelligence aim

Substitutes "purpose" with "aim", highlighting the intended outcome or direction of intelligence efforts.

reason for intelligence gathering

Elaborates on the reason behind collecting intelligence, providing a clearer and more explicit expression.

objective of intelligence operations

Specifies that the objective pertains to intelligence operations, adding precision.

rationale for intelligence activities

Replaces "purpose" with "rationale", emphasizing the logical basis or justification for intelligence actions.

intent of intelligence work

Focuses on the intended outcome of intelligence work, using "intent" as a synonym for "purpose".

motivation behind intelligence collection

Highlights the driving force or reason for gathering intelligence, using "motivation" instead of "purpose".

intelligence goal

A shorter and more direct alternative, replacing "purpose" with "goal".

intelligence motive

Implies the underlying reason or impulse for intelligence activities.

purpose of intelligence analysis

Specifies that the purpose is related to intelligence analysis, clarifying the focus.

FAQs

What is a more grammatically sound alternative to "intelligence purpose"?

Alternatives such as "intelligence objective", "intelligence aim", or "reason for intelligence gathering" provide greater clarity and grammatical correctness.

How can I use the concept of "intelligence purpose" in a sentence?

Instead of directly using "intelligence purpose", try rephrasing to something like, "The data was collected for "intelligence gathering" to enhance national security."

What's the difference between "intelligence purpose" and "intelligence objective"?

"Intelligence purpose" is a general term, while "intelligence objective" is a more specific and measurable goal that intelligence activities aim to achieve.

When is it appropriate to use "intelligence purpose" in formal writing?

While not strictly incorrect, "intelligence purpose" lacks precision. In formal writing, it's preferable to use more specific alternatives like "objective of intelligence operations" to ensure clarity.