sense of intention

USAGE SUMMARY

"sense of intention" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express the idea of someone having a particular aim or goal in mind. For example, "She had a strong sense of intention when she wrote her essay."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

Watching it, I felt a sense of intention in the weather, as if those mild days were just a way of clearing the canvas, scraping away the old paint, before laying down a fresh ground of white.

The New York Times

He seemed to have a sense of intention in his paintings, and a sense of coherence.

BBC

"I think that this album had a clearer sense of intention," Cutrono says.

Los Angeles Times

Brooklyn Street Art: You talk about doing your work and your projects with a sense of "intention".

Huffington Post

Walking as a practice does require commitment with a clear sense of intention, consistency, focus and awareness.

Huffington Post

To be honest, I'm feeling a sense of burden and anxiety, too, that strange feeling when there's too much to do and not any clear sense of intention behind the doing of it.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

For music with the aura of finality, but also the sense of unfulfilled intention, the quartet played the final Contrapunctus of "The Art of Fugue".

The New York Times - Arts

Viewing China's actions through an obsolete lens will give them a distorted sense of its intentions.

The New York Times

One could tip a medley of letters into it - they might be scrawled upon or incomplete, vividly coloured or crooked - and it would make sense of their intentions.

The Guardian - Books

He strives for the comic elements, sometimes dressing the stage with a lot of Marx Brothers-like movement: characters gather, giggle, act distracted, and then depart, and meanwhile we lose the sense of their intentions, and of the continuity in their inner lives.

The New Yorker

Or they lack such content, and then they have to be qualified as thinking acts (in the sense of "meaning-intentions" or "significations").

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "sense of intention" when you want to convey that someone has a clear idea of what they want to achieve and are acting with purpose. For example, when describing a character in a story or analyzing someone's actions.

Common error

Don't use "sense of intention" when you actually mean a "sense of urgency". The former implies a planned goal, while the latter indicates a need for immediate action. Make sure the context aligns with a planned objective rather than an emergency.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sense of intention" primarily functions as a noun phrase, often serving as the object of a verb or the complement of a preposition. As seen in Ludwig's examples, it describes a quality or attribute related to purposefulness. It's about understanding the presence of a deliberate aim.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "sense of intention" is a noun phrase used to describe a clear aim or purpose behind an action or plan. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and suitable for use in various contexts, including news, scientific writing, and formal communication. While not extremely frequent, it effectively conveys the idea of purposefulness. Related phrases like "sense of purpose" or "awareness of goals" can be used as alternatives, depending on the desired nuance. Remember to distinguish it from "sense of urgency", which implies immediate action rather than a planned objective.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

sense of purpose

Replaces "intention" with "purpose", emphasizing the overall aim or objective.

conscious intent

Highlights intentionality that is fully in awareness.

deliberate purpose

Highlights intention that is planned and considered carefully.

feeling of determination

Shifts from intention to the emotional state of being determined.

directed motivation

Emphasizes the directed nature of intention and motivation.

awareness of goals

Focuses on the cognitive aspect of understanding one's objectives.

clear objective

Simplifies the phrase to highlight a distinct and unambiguous goal.

strong motivation

Emphasizes the driving force behind one's actions.

definite aim

Highlights a specific and well-defined target.

underlying plan

Conveys a sense that there's intention hidden behind a set of actions.

FAQs

How can I use "sense of intention" in a sentence?

You can use "sense of intention" to describe someone's clear aim or purpose. For instance, "The artist's work conveyed a strong "sense of intention"."

What's a good alternative to "sense of intention"?

Alternatives include "sense of purpose", "awareness of goals", or "conscious intent", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is "sense of intention" the same as "sense of urgency"?

No, "sense of intention" refers to a deliberate aim, while "sense of urgency" describes a need for immediate action. They are not interchangeable.

In what contexts is "sense of intention" most appropriate?

"Sense of intention" is suitable in contexts where you want to highlight someone's purposeful actions or the underlying aim behind their behavior, whether in art, personal conduct, or strategic planning.