no ill intent

USAGE SUMMARY

"no ill intent" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to someone's actions or intentions, to emphasize that they had no malicious or harmful intent. For example: "John tried to help me, but made things worse - he had no ill intent, though."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

27 human-written examples

"I tried to take the second baseman out — obviously no ill intent," Holliday said.

The New York Times - Sports

A few hours after she passed, and before her family could tell all her chums, a tweet or Facebook update slipped out from a friend it's not clear which.No ill intent was meant.

The Economist

"Sure, it's great to share the things that our officers are finding, but at the same time, each time we find a dangerous item, the line is slowed down and a passenger that likely had no ill intent ends up with a citation or in some cases is even arrested".

Huffington Post

There was no ill intent.

The New York Times - Sports

She had no ill intent — really, just the opposite.

The New Yorker

"Cahill hadn't a chance of winning the ball, but there was no ill intent.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

33 human-written examples

19.31 With closed shotgun in hand, Saunders says he has "no ill-intent", he asks to speak to his wife.

The Guardian

Firearms officers were not told Saunders had repeatedly expressed terror at being shot and said he was "no threat to anyone but himself" and had "no ill-intent".

The Guardian

I write in good faith and with no ill-intent.

Huffington Post

I know they usually have no ill-intent and are just trying to show interest, but regardless, their probing implies my skin has too much melanin for someone from Munich.

Huffington Post

"There were no indications of any ill intent at the time that visa was issued," Elizabeth Kennedy Trudeau, a State Department spokeswoman, said in an interview.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When clarifying someone's actions, use "no ill intent" to assure others of the person's good faith, especially when the outcome was negative.

Common error

Avoid immediately assuming "ill intent" in ambiguous situations. Instead, seek clarification to understand the person's perspective and motivations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "no ill intent" typically functions as a qualifier or explanation regarding someone's actions. It aims to clarify that despite any negative outcomes, there was no harmful or malicious purpose driving the behavior. Ludwig confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Encyclopedias

30%

Science

30%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "no ill intent" is used to communicate that an action, even if it resulted in a negative outcome, was not performed with malicious or harmful intentions. It's a grammatically correct phrase with a neutral to formal register, commonly found in news, encyclopedias, and scientific contexts. Ludwig confirms its proper usage. When using this phrase, focus on clarifying actions and motivations, but avoid assuming intent before understanding the full context. Alternatives include "without malice" and "in good faith".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

with no malicious intent

Emphasizes the lack of malicious purpose.

no harmful intention

Highlights the absence of intention to cause harm.

without malice

Focuses on the absence of malicious feelings or intentions.

without bad intentions

Highlights the absence of negative or immoral intentions.

absence of malice

Formal way to express the lack of ill will.

in good faith

Suggests honesty and sincerity in one's actions.

with good intentions

Focuses on the positive intentions behind the actions.

without any bad motive

Emphasizes that the action was performed without any malicious motivations.

no evil design

Highlights the absence of an evil plan or scheme.

unmaliciously

Expresses that an action was done without malice.

FAQs

How can I use "no ill intent" in a sentence?

You can use "no ill intent" to clarify that someone's actions, even if they had a negative outcome, were not meant to cause harm. For example, "He may have made a mistake, but he acted with "no ill intent"".

What is a good alternative to "no ill intent"?

Alternatives to "no ill intent" include "without malice", "with no malicious intent", or "in good faith", all of which convey the absence of harmful or malicious purpose.

Is it better to say "no ill intent" or "no malicious intent"?

Both "no ill intent" and "no malicious intent" are correct and convey similar meanings. The choice depends on the context and the desired level of formality. "No malicious intent" may sound slightly more formal.

When should I use "no ill intent" in a formal context?

Use "no ill intent" in formal contexts when you need to emphasize that an action was not driven by malicious motives, even if it had unintended consequences. For instance, in legal or official statements, clarifying that there was "no ill intent" can be important.