occasional intention

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "occasional intention" is not commonly used in written English and may sound awkward.
It could be used to describe a purpose or goal that is not pursued regularly, but the combination of words is unusual. Example: "Her occasional intention to travel abroad often led to spontaneous adventures."

Art

Literature

General Usage

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Shelving, a recessed wall element or alcove (tokonoma), and other features provided places for displaying art appropriate to a season, mood, or other occasional intention.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

It depicts people in a state of constant fear and desperation whose occasional best intentions are swamped in a mudslide of ego and greed.

The New Yorker

On the whole, clarity of expression is not what Glazer is after, though he does flirt with the odd theme and display the occasional flash of intention.

The Guardian - Film

It's a good idea to be sure that you're dealing with bossiness from the coworker rather than occasional misplaced good intentions or someone who is genuinely a good (and needed) organizer or motivator.

WikiHow

Now, despite the occasional flash of cruel intention, Jack's anger had mostly turned into something else.

The New Yorker

In 2009, over 120 years after the last known Wanderers match, a "reformed" Wanderers club was founded in London, reportedly with the approval of descendants of those involved with the original club, with the intention to play occasional matches for charity.

Wikipedia

(Everyone is. And I've no intention of abandoning the occasional rib-eye, or of seeing that as a betrayal of anything).

The New York Times - Food

Thieves' intentions Thefts are an occasional, sometimes regular, nuisance for artists and craftspeople who sell their work at fairs and festivals, despite the sincere efforts of the event sponsors and the artists themselves to stop them.

Huffington Post

The set is sequenced with the intention of keeping the mood euphoric, with occasional reality-check dips that spell out the underlying bleakness of "fancy restaurants, cocaine nights", as new track Inevitable has it.

The Guardian - Music

Ms. Sherman remembers seeing occasional local art shows and dabbling with her siblings' paints, but without any intention of becoming an artist.

The New York Times

But both pieces are also surprisingly literal, with a directness of choreographic intention that feels disconnected from Ms. Guerin's opaque juxtapositions of precise gesture, occasional speech and spiraling, imploding movement.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider replacing "occasional intention" with more common and direct alternatives like "sporadic aim" or "intermittent purpose" for clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "occasional intention" in formal writing. Opt for more precise and professional vocabulary to convey your intended meaning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "occasional intention" functions as a noun phrase, where "occasional" modifies the noun "intention". It describes an intention that is not consistently present or acted upon. Ludwig AI highlights that this construction is not very common in contemporary English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Wiki

20%

Science

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

10%

Formal & Business

10%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "occasional intention" is grammatically acceptable but not a commonly used expression. As Ludwig AI points out, it might be better to use more straightforward alternatives for improved clarity. It functions as a noun phrase to describe an intention that is not consistently present or acted upon. The phrase tends to appear in News & Media and Wiki sources. While not incorrect, writers should consider whether a more direct alternative, like "sporadic aim", might better convey their intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

sporadic aim

Replaces "occasional" with "sporadic", emphasizing the irregular nature of the intention.

intermittent purpose

Uses "intermittent" instead of "occasional", highlighting the on-and-off nature of the purpose.

infrequent design

Substitutes "occasional" with "infrequent", stressing the rare occurrence of the design.

irregular plan

Replaces "occasional" with "irregular", suggesting a lack of consistency in the plan.

periodic objective

Uses "periodic" to emphasize the cyclical nature of the objective.

fleeting goal

Replaces intention with goal and occasional with fleeting, highlighting the brief duration of the goal

passing notion

Uses "passing" to indicate the temporary nature of the notion.

temporary aspiration

Highlights the short-lived duration of the aspiration.

rare ambition

Emphasizes the uncommon nature of the ambition.

uncommon inclination

Stresses the unusual occurrence of the inclination.

FAQs

What does "occasional intention" mean?

The phrase "occasional intention" refers to a purpose or aim that is pursued or considered infrequently or irregularly.

What can I say instead of "occasional intention"?

You can use alternatives like "sporadic aim", "intermittent purpose", or "infrequent design" depending on the context.

Is "occasional intention" grammatically correct?

Yes, "occasional intention" is grammatically correct, but it is not a commonly used phrase and might sound somewhat unusual to some readers. Using an alternative might improve clarity.

How can I use "occasional intention" in a sentence?

You can use "occasional intention" to describe a purpose that is not consistent or frequent, such as "Her occasional intention to travel abroad often led to spontaneous adventures."