probable intention

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "probable intention" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the likely purpose or aim behind someone's actions or statements. Example: "Based on the evidence presented, we can infer the probable intention behind the decision made by the committee."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

It'd be in the dustbin already if it weren't Sony's probable intention to make it the only handheld they make and move their PSP system entirely online.

TechCrunch

It also meant adopting humanistic methods of interpreting a particular text by viewing it in the broader context of the whole work of which it was a part and also in terms of the probable intention of the author.

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

He was particularly concerned with tone color: he advised that "The player should cultivate a seismograph-like sensitivity to brusque changes of tone colour caused by fingerings based on expediency and comfort rather than the composer's manifest or probable intentions".

Wikipedia

Despite probable good intentions, the article jarred, mainly because Vogue lauding big bums is quite like Peta (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) penning a love song to the fur gilet.

The Guardian - Opinion

The full contains the outcome variable (breastfeeding duration/initiation), the exposure variable (pregnancy intentions), all probable confounders and interaction terms.

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

The coding categories for 'person schemas' were based on the theoretical framework proposed by Klimoski and Donahue (2001), describing five common types of inference processes in judgment tasks: inferences regarding knowledge, traits, dispositions (probable patterns of behaviour), intentions (immediate goals) and social category membership.

Advances in Health Sciences Education

In addition, the questions about voting preferences in the 2000 election for United States Senate are based on the responses of "likely voters," defined as a probable electorate in terms of intention to vote, interest in the campaign and past voting behavior.

The New York Times

In addition, the questions about voting preferences in the 2000 election for president and United States senator are based on the responses of "likely voters," defined as a probable electorate in terms of intention to vote, interest in the campaign and past voting behavior.

The New York Times

Table 1 presents the results of bivariate analyses for identifying probable confounders on the association between pregnancy intention and breastfeeding practices.

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

This study therefore investigates the associations between HIV status and probable knowledge about HIV status on fertility intention and current contraceptive behavior for women in nine sub-Saharan African countries.

Global Health Action

In the association between pregnancy intention and breastfeeding duration, same variables were considered as probable confounders in addition to breastfeeding initiation.

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use “probable intention” when you want to analyze or interpret actions, decisions, or statements by considering what was most likely intended based on the available information.

Common error

Avoid using "probable intention" when the intention is known or obvious. Using stronger terms like "definite intention" or "clear objective" would be more appropriate in such cases.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "probable intention" functions as a noun phrase modifier, where the adjective "probable" qualifies the noun "intention". Ludwig AI shows examples where this phrase is used to describe a likely or reasonably inferred aim or purpose.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "probable intention" is a grammatically sound phrase used to express a likely aim or purpose, though not definitively known. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and notes its relative infrequency, primarily appearing in news and scientific contexts. When employing this phrase, ensure the context supports the likelihood of the stated intention and avoid using it when the intention is already certain. Alternatives such as "likely intent" or "expected purpose" can provide nuanced variations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

likely intent

Replaces "probable" with "likely" and "intention" with "intent", maintaining the core meaning with slightly more concise wording.

expected purpose

Substitutes "probable" with "expected" and "intention" with "purpose", shifting the emphasis slightly towards anticipation rather than likelihood.

presumed aim

Replaces "probable" with "presumed" and "intention" with "aim", suggesting a more speculative or inferred objective.

most likely goal

Uses "most likely" instead of "probable" and replaces "intention" with "goal", highlighting the objective with a stronger degree of certainty.

reasonable objective

Focuses on the rationality and plausibility of the objective, rather than the likelihood of the intention.

plausible motive

Highlights the believability of the underlying reason or motivation behind an action.

potential reason

Shifts the focus to a possible explanation or justification, without necessarily implying a deliberate plan.

inferred objective

Emphasizes that the purpose is deduced or concluded based on available information.

anticipated design

Suggests a planned outcome that is expected to occur, moving away from a simple intention.

predictable course of action

Focuses on the anticipated series of steps or behaviors that are expected to be followed.

FAQs

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

Use "probable intention" to describe the most likely aim or purpose behind someone's actions or decisions. For example, "The "probable intention" of the new policy is to improve employee morale".

What's the difference between "probable intention" and "possible intention"?

"Probable intention" suggests a higher degree of likelihood compared to "possible intention". While "possible intention" indicates something that could be the aim, "probable intention" suggests it's the most likely aim based on available evidence.

What can I say instead of "probable intention"?

You can use alternatives like "likely intent", "expected purpose", or "presumed aim" depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey. Each of these alternatives provides a slightly different shade of meaning.

Is "probable intention" a formal or informal phrase?

"Probable intention" is suitable for both formal and neutral contexts. Its use depends more on the surrounding vocabulary and sentence structure than the phrase itself being inherently formal or informal.