intending

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "intending" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when expressing a purpose or plan to do something in the future. Example: "I am intending to start my own business next year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"For customers intending to start or finish their journey at King's Cross, consideration should be given to deferring travel plans to either Sunday or Monday.

The Guardian - Business

If you are intending to go to university, if you are under 30 and unemployed, if you are a family with a child over 6, if you go to GPs, you'll going to be hit hard.

The Guardian - Business

Insisting that he was not intending to carry out "cheeseparing cuts", Duncan Smith said: "I cannot and will not on this programme try to write the next spending review.

The Guardian

He's not intending to make a valedictory speech this evening (there are a couple due today, just as there was a couple yesterday); even though he's retiring.

The Guardian

But, still, earlier he had said, with sudden passion, that "No, no, I don't believe Labour came intending to fail in social justice, in equality.

The Guardian

Is he trying to say that someone was intending to damage it?

The Guardian - Sport

Related: Labour and Lib Dems face election bruising in Scotland, poll predicts What is surprising is how difficult it is to find anyone in Dundee West, one of the nationalists' key target seats currently held by Labour's Jim McGovern with a majority of just over 7,000, who is intending to vote Labour again.

The Guardian

Lim's spokesperson stressed he was not intending to develop a business in TPO.

The Guardian - Sport

I had been intending to vote for the Green Party but they seem a bit all over the place recently.

The Guardian

Their sponsors tend to offer them up as harmless measures, intending to raise awareness of problems, perhaps, and anyway to help everyone muddle along.

The Economist

That will not reassure neighbours who worry about China's growing assertiveness in disputed regional waters, and who turn to America for help.However, Mr Xi is not intending to turn his back on America.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "intending" to clearly convey a planned or purposed action, especially when the context requires a formal or slightly emphatic tone.

Common error

Avoid using "intending" in very informal conversations; opt for simpler alternatives like "planning" or "going to" for a more natural sound.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "intending" is as a present participle, often used in continuous verb tenses to describe an ongoing plan or purpose. As Ludwig AI explains, this usage is grammatically correct and widely accepted.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

27%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "intending" is a grammatically sound and frequently used verb phrase, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It serves primarily to express a planned or purposed action, carrying a neutral to professional tone. While versatile, it's advisable to choose simpler alternatives in informal settings. As shown in the usage patterns, you're most likely to encounter it in news, business and scientific writing. Given its high frequency and clear meaning, "intending" is a valuable addition to your vocabulary for expressing future plans.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

planning

Focuses more on the scheduled aspect of the action.

aiming

Highlights the goal-oriented nature of the action.

purposing

Emphasizes the deliberate intention behind the action.

proposing

Suggests a formal suggestion or plan.

expecting

Implies an anticipation or belief that something will happen.

contemplating

Indicates a more thoughtful consideration of the action.

anticipating

Focuses on looking forward to a future event.

designing

Implies the creation of a detailed plan.

desiring

Highlights the wish or longing for a specific outcome.

wishing

Suggests a hope or desire, often less firm than a plan.

FAQs

How can I use "intending" in a sentence?

"Intending" is used as a present participle of the verb intend, indicating a planned or purposed action. For example, "They are "intending to travel" next month."

What's a simpler word for "intending"?

Alternatives include "planning", "aiming", or "expecting". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "intending to" or "planning to"?

Both are correct, but "intending to" carries a slightly more formal tone than "planning to". Use "intending to" when you want to emphasize the deliberate nature of the plan.

What is the difference between "intending" and "expecting"?

"Intending" suggests a deliberate plan or purpose, while "expecting" implies a belief that something will happen, regardless of whether it's actively planned. For example, "I am "intending to apply" for the job" vs. "I am "expecting rain" tomorrow."