purposes when

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "purposes when" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to refer to specific situations or contexts in which certain purposes apply, but as it stands, it lacks clarity. Example: "The report outlines the various purposes when implementing new policies."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Is it permissible to call something purple for rhythmic purposes when in fact it's pink?

The Guardian - Books

The First Amendment has wandered far from its purposes when it is recruited to protect commercial automatons from regulatory scrutiny.

The New York Times

Jiinst's father was a prize-winning stallion, and Enkhbayar bought Jiinst for breeding purposes when the horse was just 2 years old.

The New York Times

Still another problem is the authors' habit of making blanket characterizations of motives and purposes, when the evidence they themselves present would permit very different constructions.

The New York Times - Books

Although automakers release monthly figures for sales by their dealerships, the automakers book sales for quarterly earnings purposes when they ship vehicles to dealerships.

The New York Times

The centre, used mainly for religious purposes when it opened in 1890, is now set aside to provide three free meals a day, along with various support services.

The Guardian

That payment results from $2 billion of net operating losses that TCI had and Liberty was able to use for tax purposes when AT&T bought the company.

The New York Times

The ox, the heavy-duty dray animal of the Mediterranean world, was used for military purposes when heavy loads were involved and speed was not critical.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Screen saver programs, originally intended to help prevent damage to older computer monitors, are often used now for security or entertainment purposes when the computer is idle.

The New York Times

For our purposes, when I talk about fixed income exposure, I'm referring to intermediate-term bonds with an average maturity of around five years.

The New York Times

Returning home, it suddenly became obvious that I had been using these distractions for specific purposes: when exhausted, I zone out with TV; when I feel isolated the internet gives me a sense of connection.

The Guardian - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Reframe the sentence to clearly state the purpose and the condition separately. For example, instead of saying "used for x purposes when y", say "used for x purposes under y conditions".

Common error

Avoid combining the general concept of 'purposes' directly with the conditional 'when' as it creates grammatical ambiguity. Instead, use prepositions or conjunctions that explicitly link the purpose to the specific timing or condition.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "purposes when" functions as a relative clause aiming to specify the conditions or timing related to certain objectives. However, this construction is grammatically unconventional and often requires restructuring for clarity. Ludwig AI highlights this grammatical issue.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

41%

News & Media

40%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "purposes when" appears frequently in various contexts, it's considered grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase does not convey a clear meaning. Its intended purpose is to specify conditions or timing related to objectives. To ensure clarity and grammatical accuracy, it's best to rephrase using alternatives such as "when utilized for specific purposes" or restructuring the sentence to explicitly link the purpose to the condition. Use of more precise language is crucial, especially in formal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

when utilized for specific purposes

Emphasizes the use of something for particular reasons at a certain time.

when employed with the aim of

Highlights the intention or goal when something is put to use.

when used for purposes of

Reverses the order to emphasize the purpose before the timing.

for the purpose of when

Places "purpose" at the forefront, but maintains the conditional 'when'.

in situations where purposes include

Specifies that the purposes are relevant within certain situations.

under circumstances where specific purposes are intended

Highlights the circumstances that dictate the purposes.

for defined purposes given that

Uses "given that" to introduce a condition under which the purposes are relevant.

for reasons connected to

Replaces 'purposes' with 'reasons', focusing on causal factors.

if the intention is for specific purposes

Focuses on the intention behind the action related to the purposes.

in cases requiring

Focuses on the necessity or requirement for specific purposes.

FAQs

How can I rephrase a sentence using "purposes when" to be grammatically correct?

Instead of directly linking "purposes" with "when", try restructuring the sentence. For example, use "for specific purposes under certain conditions" or "when used for the purpose of". These alternatives provide greater clarity and grammatical accuracy.

What's wrong with saying "purposes when"?

The phrase "purposes when" creates a grammatically awkward construction. It lacks a clear connector to link the purpose with the specific timing or condition, making the sentence unclear. Ludwig AI confirms this grammatical issue.

Are there alternatives to "purposes when" that still convey a similar meaning?

Yes, you can use alternatives like "when utilized for specific purposes" or "in situations where purposes include". These alternatives provide better clarity and grammatical correctness.

Is "purposes when" acceptable in formal writing?

No, "purposes when" is not recommended for formal writing due to its grammatical awkwardness. Opt for more precise and grammatically sound alternatives to maintain clarity and professionalism. Ludwig AI highlights this issue.