personal intention

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "personal intention" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing an individual's goals, desires, or motivations behind their actions or decisions. Example: "Her personal intention was to create a positive impact in her community through her volunteer work."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

Within the community, each Jew is called upon to realize the covenant in his or her personal intention and behaviour.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"I have said before I don't have any personal intention to retire before my 60th birthday... apart from that I don't believe [there is] any succession issue".

The Guardian - Money

Featuring 12 artists projects and a wide range of work, from mixed-media installations to film, video, archive-oriented art, The Way Things Go explores how personal effects, gourds, seeds, a recipe, and sugar all yield stories that go beyond each artist's personal intention, and creates a larger story of interwoven meanings embedded in cultural geography and spatial history.

University of California, Berkeley

They definitely need to be extremely motivated and dedicated, with the personal intention of making things better.

Science Magazine

Make it your personal intention to master allowing.

Huffington Post

Each Nettelhorst student has tied a piece of fabric to the fence as a tangible sign of his or her personal intention to create a better world.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

TARA Stiles does not talk about sacred Hindu texts, personal intentions or chakras.

The New York Times

Preferences as strict partial orders have an intuitive semantics; they may be subjective from daily life experiences, driven by personal intentions, or due to technical constraints.

VLDB '02: Proceedings of the 28th International Conference on Very Large Databases Hong Kong SAR, China 20–23 August 2002

Bucketlist.org calls itself "a web-based personal intentions system"; its users can list their goals, post updates about their accomplishments, and evaluate the goals of other people.

The New Yorker

They point out that the Greeks tended to discuss the origins of political and social institutions in terms of the personal intentions of a single founder.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Wiseman's humanism isn't narrow in scope; it's based on the inextricable connection between personal intentions and desires and the societal circumstances that foster or thwart them, the near-constant impingement of the workings of the law on the conduct of daily life, of the inseparability of personal fulfillment and the quest for justice.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "personal intention", ensure it clearly reflects the individual's specific aim or motivation in a given context. For instance, instead of saying "He had good intentions", specify his "personal intention" to improve team morale by organizing social events.

Common error

Avoid using "personal intention" in vague statements. Instead of a broad claim like "Her personal intention was success", specify the area of focus: "Her personal intention was to excel in her academic studies."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "personal intention" functions as a noun phrase, where "personal" modifies the noun "intention". It is used to specify an individual's specific aim, goal, or motivation. As supported by Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

28%

Encyclopedias

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

10%

Academia

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "personal intention" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase referring to an individual's specific aim or objective. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and widespread use across various contexts. It is suitable for both formal and informal communication, with a neutral to professional register. While commonly found in News & Media and Science sources, it is important to use it with clarity and specificity to avoid vague statements. Consider alternatives like "individual purpose" or "private aim" for nuanced expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

individual purpose

Emphasizes the singular and specific nature of the aim.

private aim

Highlights the personal and potentially undisclosed nature of the objective.

personal goal

Focuses on the desired outcome that one strives to achieve.

inner motive

Draws attention to the underlying reason driving the individual's actions.

own aspiration

Highlights the individual's ambition or hope.

specific objective

Underscores the clarity and precision of the intended outcome.

intended course of action

Focuses on the planned steps one aims to take.

reason for doing

Highlights the motive behind a specific action or behavior.

subjective target

Emphasizes that the goal is based on personal feelings and opinions.

driving force

Focuses on what pushes or compels someone to act in a certain way.

FAQs

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

You can use "personal intention" to describe someone's specific aim or goal. For example, "His "personal intention" was to finish the marathon, regardless of his time."

What's a good alternative to "personal intention"?

Alternatives include "individual purpose", "private aim", or "personal goal", depending on the context.

Is it better to say "personal intention" or "professional intention"?

The choice depends on whether you're referring to a goal related to someone's personal life or their career. "Personal intention" is for personal goals, while "professional intention" is for work-related objectives.

What's the difference between "personal intention" and "personal desire"?

"Personal intention" implies a deliberate plan or goal, while "personal desire" refers to a strong feeling or want. Intention suggests action, while desire suggests longing.