minor purpose

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "minor purpose" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when referring to a secondary or less significant reason for an action or decision. For example, "The meeting was called for a minor purpose, such as discussing the schedule." Alternative expressions include "secondary purpose" and "subsidiary purpose."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

He also objected to the bill's liberal approval of intelligence wiretaps even if intelligence gathering is only a minor purpose of the tap.

The New York Times

It's an interesting October example of a vertical search engine that serves a genuine, if minor purpose.

TechCrunch

The concept of scenarios is often connected to possibilities and probabilities, which, however, are a comparatively minor purpose of scenario processes in futures studies [11, 27].

European Journal of Futures Research

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

The smaller wood is used for whip handles, for the tops of fishing rods, and for various minor purposes where even-grained elastic wood is desired.

Encyclopedia Britannica

This allows you to continue using the computer for certain minor purposes - basic word processing, web browsing, simple games, etc. Linux is a free, popular, no-frills operating system with many different variants are often used for this purpose.

WikiHow

Thus, the model does not consider the control of primary reserves, which plays a minor role for our purposes, and is treated by other studies [10].

Journal of Modern Power Systems and Clean Energy

As smartphones developed, a similar tale occurred again and again: a feature introduced for a minor, specific purpose would be blown open by developers.

The Guardian - Tech

The metal is still used for the few gas mantles currently being manufactured, as well as for medical and minor industrial purposes.

The New Yorker

What about giving money to minors for purposes other than education?

Forbes

He also pleaded not guilty to a charge that was added yesterday: enticing a minor for immoral purposes.

The New York Times - Sports

"Yeah, that was a shock for my mother," the singer says wryly, skirting round the fact that her mum's outrage actually led to a Scotland Yard investigation into allegations of exploitation of a minor for immoral purposes.

The Guardian - Music

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "minor purpose", ensure the context clearly establishes the existence of a more significant, primary purpose to provide appropriate contrast and avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "minor purpose" to describe something that is, in fact, critical or essential to the overall goal. This can mislead the audience and diminish the true importance of that aspect.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "minor purpose" functions as a noun phrase, where "minor" modifies the noun "purpose". It indicates that the purpose being discussed is of secondary importance or significance. Ludwig AI provides examples illustrating this usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Encyclopedias

33%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "minor purpose" is a grammatically sound and understandable way to describe a secondary objective or less significant reason for an action. Although Ludwig AI identifies it as having rare usage, its meaning is clear and it appears in a variety of reliable sources, including news outlets, scientific journals, and encyclopedias. When employing this phrase, ensure the primary purpose is also evident to provide context. Alternatives such as "secondary objective" or "lesser aim" can be used to achieve a similar effect. While grammatically correct, make sure that "minor purpose" reflects the actual significance to prevent misleading your audience.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

secondary objective

Replaces 'purpose' with 'objective', implying a less critical goal.

lesser aim

Substitutes 'minor' with 'lesser' and 'purpose' with 'aim', suggesting reduced significance.

subordinate goal

Emphasizes that the purpose is ranked lower in importance.

ancillary reason

Highlights that the reason is supplemental or supporting.

incidental motive

Suggests that the motive is of little importance or occurs by chance.

peripheral intention

Indicates the intention is not central or essential.

small-scale design

Focuses on the limited scope or scale of the purpose.

trivial function

Conveys that the purpose is insignificant or unimportant.

negligible cause

Emphasizes the unimportance or insignificance of the cause.

reduced importance reason

Explicitly states that the reason has diminished importance.

FAQs

What does "minor purpose" mean?

A "minor purpose" refers to a secondary or less important reason for doing something, in contrast to a primary or more significant reason.

What's a good alternative to "minor purpose"?

You can use alternatives like "secondary objective", "lesser aim", or "subordinate goal" depending on the context.

How can I use "minor purpose" in a sentence?

Example: "While the primary goal was to increase revenue, a "secondary objective", or "minor purpose", was to improve employee morale."

Is it always clear when a purpose is considered "minor"?

No, whether a purpose is considered "minor" is often subjective and depends on the specific context and priorities.