intended to work

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "intended to work" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is designed or meant to function in a particular way or for a specific purpose. Example: "The new software update is intended to work seamlessly with older versions of the program."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I never intended to work at Noma.

The Guardian - Sport

How, though, is this partnership intended to work?

The Guardian - Business

Ksplice is intended to work for all security patches.

MIT Technology Review

The services are intended to work automatically, in the background.

The New York Times

Or at least that's how it was intended to work.

University of California, Berkeley

In contrast to the latter the CLR is intended to work as an autonomous periodic system.

Chemical Engineering Science

The guidelines are not binding, but are intended to work through the power of persuasion.

The New York Times - Tech

The surprise to me was that I never intended to work in television.

The New York Times

Originally, he had intended to work under Edward Teller, the inventor of the hydrogen bomb.

The Economist

He said he intended to work with lawmakers of both parties.

The New York Times

IKEA products are intended to work as well in Riyadh as they do in Reykjavík.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the purpose of a system or product, use "intended to work" to clearly communicate the design objective.

Common error

Avoid using "intended to work" when describing aspirational goals rather than actual design specifications. This phrase describes what something is designed to do, not what you hope it will eventually achieve.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "intended to work" primarily functions as part of an infinitive phrase, often modifying a noun or pronoun to describe its designed purpose. As Ludwig confirms, it accurately conveys the designed function of something.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

34%

Science

32%

Academia

24%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "intended to work" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression that describes the designed or expected functionality of something. As verified by Ludwig, its correctness and applicability are well-supported by numerous examples across diverse sources, including news media, scientific publications, and academic texts. While alternatives like "designed to function" or "meant to operate" exist, "intended to work" remains a clear and effective choice for conveying design intent. Remember to use it to specify design objectives rather than aspirational goals.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

designed to function

Replaces "intended" with "designed" and "work" with "function", focusing on the planned operational state.

meant to operate

Substitutes "intended" with "meant" and "work" with "operate", emphasizing the designed method of operation.

supposed to run

Changes "intended" to "supposed" and "work" to "run", implying an expectation of performance.

planned to perform

Replaces "intended" with "planned" and "work" with "perform", highlighting the planned action.

expected to function

Substitutes "intended" with "expected" and "work" with "function", suggesting an anticipated functionality.

configured to operate

Replaces "intended" with "configured" and "work" with "operate", focusing on the set-up for operation.

set up to work

Changes "intended" to "set up", emphasizing the preparation for working.

designed for operation

Replaces "intended to work" with a more concise phrase indicating the purpose of design.

created for use

Substitutes "intended to work" with a phrase indicating the designed purpose of creation.

made to function

Replaces "intended" with "made" and "work" with "function", emphasizing the act of making something functional.

FAQs

How can I use "intended to work" in a sentence?

Use "intended to work" to describe the designed function or purpose of something. For example, "This software is "intended to work" on all operating systems".

What's a good alternative to "intended to work"?

Alternatives include phrases like "designed to function", "meant to operate", or "supposed to run", depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "intends to work" instead of "intended to work"?

"Intends to work" implies a current plan or desire, whereas ""intended to work"" describes a designed or pre-determined function. They are not interchangeable.

What is the difference between "designed to work" and "intended to work"?

While similar, "designed to work" emphasizes the engineering aspect, whereas ""intended to work"" can also refer to a less technical or more conceptual purpose. The subtle distinction is often negligible.