purpose at hand

USAGE SUMMARY

"purpose at hand" is a perfectly acceptable phrase in written English.
It is used to refer to a task that needs to be completed or a goal that needs to be achieved. For example, "We can't get distracted from our purpose at hand - completing this project on time."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

31 human-written examples

Therefore special care should be taken to suit the method to the purpose at hand.

Seminars in Cell & Developmental Biology

This rendered the prepared material very promising for the purpose at hand.

Journal of the Taiwan Institute of Chemical Engineers

The answer often depends on the context and the purpose at hand.

Treatise on Geomorphology

For the purpose at hand -- determining whether the authors' copyrights have been infringed -- an analogy to an imaginary library may be instructive.

The New York Times

Like most businessmen, not just in Hong Kong, they saw politics as an unnecessary hindrance to the main purpose at hand, the production of wealth.

The New York Times - Magazine

This enlarges the list of methods that are eventually useful to the purpose at hand and justifies an overall examination of their distinguishing features.

Structural Safety

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

29 human-written examples

For the purposes at hand, an object is a unique, physical thing.

The New York Times - Arts

While by most accounts Davis and Ball weren't particularly simpatico — the former reliably light and amusing, tactful and considerate, the latter sometimes harsh and often humorless — they were for the purposes at hand the perfect complement to each other.

The New York Times - Arts

And that's all we know of Shawn Edwards, of Fox-TV, who thought it was "the comedy hit of the summer!" For the purposes at hand — the purposes of promotion — all movie reviewers are fictional, or manipulated to the point of fictionality.

The New Yorker

A playful riff on the ancient form of the triumphal arch, "Empire," by the Irish sculptor Eva Rothschild, may be viewed for the purposes at hand as a metaphorical gateway to the entertainingly illogical array of new and old artworks awaiting Midtown and Upper East Side gallery hoppers.

The New York Times - Arts

Aside from avoidance of clutter, the purpose of this, typically, will be to emphasize that our choice of this or that variable or constant typically does not matter for the purposes at hand.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "purpose at hand" to refocus a discussion or argument back to the primary objective, especially when discussions veer off-topic.

Common error

Avoid using "purpose at hand" repeatedly within a short passage. Vary your language by using synonyms like "objective", "goal", or "aim" to maintain reader engagement and clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "purpose at hand" functions as a noun phrase that modifies and specifies the immediate aim, goal, or objective to be achieved or considered. Ludwig's examples demonstrate its use across various contexts to emphasize the current focus.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

48%

News & Media

32%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Academia

4%

Wiki

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "purpose at hand" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression that directs focus toward a specific, current objective or aim. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is perfectly acceptable and commonly appears in scientific, news, and business contexts. While versatile, it's important to use the phrase thoughtfully, avoiding overuse and ensuring clarity in communication. Consider alternative phrases like "current objective" or "immediate goal" to enrich your writing and maintain reader engagement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

current objective

Focuses on the objective rather than the reason or aim.

immediate goal

Highlights the goal's nearness in time or importance.

present aim

Emphasizes the current nature of the aim.

task at hand

Replaces 'purpose' with 'task', focusing on the action.

goal at hand

A minor variation using goal instead of purpose.

objective in question

Highlights that the objective is under consideration or discussion.

matter in hand

Shifts the focus to the 'matter' rather than the 'purpose'.

issue at stake

Emphasizes what could be gained or lost.

agenda item

Highlights the item on a list of items to discuss.

current endeavor

Emphasizes an activity with a specific objective.

FAQs

How can I use "purpose at hand" in a sentence?

You can use "purpose at hand" to refer to the current objective or task. For example, "Let's not lose sight of the "purpose at hand": completing this project on time."

What's a good alternative to "purpose at hand"?

Alternatives include "current objective", "immediate goal", or "task at hand", depending on the context.

Is it redundant to say "the purpose at hand is purpose"?

Yes, it's redundant. Rephrase it for clarity, such as "The "current objective" is to [state the purpose]" or "Our "goal at hand" is [state the purpose]".

How formal is the phrase "purpose at hand"?

"Purpose at hand" is suitable for professional and academic settings, offering a slightly more formal tone than alternatives like "what we're doing now".