overcomes the purpose

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "overcomes the purpose" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to express that something surpasses or negates a specific goal or intention, but the wording is awkward and unclear. Example: "The new policy often overcomes the purpose of promoting teamwork, leading to more competition among employees."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

Kennedy wrote: The federal statute is invalid, for no legitimate purpose overcomes the purpose and effect to disparage and to injure those whom the State, by its marriage laws, sought to protect in personhood and dignity.

The New Yorker

"The federal statute is invalid, for no legitimate purpose overcomes the purpose and effect to disparage and to injure those whom the state, by its marriage laws, sought to protect in personhood and dignity.

The Guardian

"The federal statute is invalid, for no legitimate purpose overcomes the purpose and effect to disparage and injure those whom the state, by its marriage laws, sought to protect in personhood and dignity," Justice Kennedy wrote.

The New York Times

He declared: "The federal statute is invalid, for no legitimate purpose overcomes the purpose and effect to disparage and injure those whom the State, by its marriage laws, sought to protect in personhood and dignity".

The New York Times

The case for same-sex marriage relies on lines like this one from Justice Kennedy: DOMA "is invalid, for no legitimate purpose overcomes the purpose and effect to disparage and to injure those whom the State, by its marriage laws, sought to protect in personhood and dignity".

The Economist

And Justice Kennedy was clear in his opinion striking down DOMA that the constitution does not permit the government to single out a group of people for animus-based discrimination when it comes to sex or marriage:[N]o legitimate purpose overcomes the purpose and effect to disparage and to injure those whom the State, by its marriage laws, sought to protect in personhood and dignity.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

StumbleUpon will still have some obstacles to overcome – the purpose of the web toolbar won't be immediately obvious to new users, especially those who reach it from partner sites like The Huffington Post.

TechCrunch

Furthermore, to overcome the single purpose capacity of the sensor, a multichannel optofluidic sensor has been implemented in a branch array structure.

Optik - International Journal for Light and Electron Optics

"No hypothetical justification can overcome the clear primary purpose and practical effect of the marriage bans … to disparage and demean the dignity of same-sex couples in the eyes of the state and the wider community," Black wrote.

The Guardian

Second, we must overcome the assumption that the purpose of engagement is purely to build legitimacy.

The Guardian

We have engineered a new fusion peptide using recombinant technology with the purpose of overcoming the cell barriers to gene delivery.

International Journal of Pharmaceutics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "overcomes the purpose" in formal writing. It is generally considered grammatically incorrect and can confuse readers. Instead, opt for clearer alternatives like "defeats the purpose" or "undermines the objective".

Common error

A common mistake is to use "overcomes the purpose" thinking it's a direct synonym for "defeats the purpose". However, "overcome" typically requires an obstacle or challenge, not an abstract concept like a purpose. Ensure that 'overcome' is used with a tangible or concrete noun.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "overcomes the purpose" functions as a verb phrase, but its usage is questionable. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's not a standard or recommended construction. It is often found where a phrase like "defeats the purpose" might be more appropriate.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

37%

Formal & Business

13%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "overcomes the purpose" appears in a limited number of contexts, including news media and scientific publications, it is generally considered grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI confirms this assessment. It attempts to convey the idea of negating or invalidating a goal, but clearer alternatives like "defeats the purpose" or "undermines the objective" are recommended for improved clarity and grammatical correctness. Therefore, it is best to avoid using this phrase in formal or professional writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

defeats the purpose

This alternative directly replaces "overcomes" with "defeats", providing a clearer and more common expression with similar meaning.

negates the intention

This alternative focuses on the nullifying effect on the intention, offering a slightly more formal tone.

undermines the objective

This alternative suggests a weakening or destabilizing of the objective, implying a gradual erosion of its effectiveness.

contradicts the aim

This alternative highlights the conflicting nature of the action or situation with the intended aim.

thwarts the goal

This alternative implies a more forceful prevention of achieving the goal.

nullifies the effect

This emphasizes the cancellation of the intended effect, rather than the purpose itself.

renders the intent invalid

This alternative focuses on invalidating the intent, making it no longer applicable or relevant.

invalidates the rationale

This alternative suggests a flawed or unsound reasoning behind the purpose, leading to its failure.

voids the justification

This implies the removal of the acceptable reason for doing something.

cancels out the effect

This describes a situation where the purpose's impact is completely negated.

FAQs

Is "overcomes the purpose" grammatically correct?

No, the phrase "overcomes the purpose" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. The verb "overcome" typically implies conquering an obstacle, not negating a purpose. It's better to use phrases like "defeats the purpose" or "undermines the objective".

What are some alternatives to "overcomes the purpose"?

Better alternatives include "defeats the purpose", "negates the intention", "undermines the objective", or "contradicts the aim". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

When is it appropriate to use "overcome" in a sentence?

Use "overcome" when referring to conquering a specific obstacle, difficulty, or challenge. For example, "She overcame her fear of public speaking". Avoid using it with abstract nouns like "purpose".

How does "defeats the purpose" differ from "overcomes the purpose"?

"Defeats the purpose" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase that means to make something pointless or ineffective. "Overcomes the purpose" is generally considered incorrect, as "overcome" usually refers to conquering an obstacle, not negating an aim.