showing intent

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "showing intent" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing someone's purpose or desire to achieve a specific outcome or action. Example: "The candidate's actions during the interview were showing intent to take on the role with enthusiasm and commitment."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Just by showing intent, a captain might start moving some of those players back.

BBC

DV: There are about 50 million tweets published per day, with around on percent of Tweets showing intent.

TechCrunch

Marketers will be able to create interactive ads that will retarget just like search advertisements do, hitting the consumer when he's showing intent.

Forbes

Beyond the feats of prestidigitation and portability that Redrocks biometric scanning technology allows, the company also differentiates itself by showing intent rather than presence, according to Konsevich.

TechCrunch

There was too much friction to showing intent with wordy plans, it was impractical to constantly be annoying friends with pleas to see them and we couldn't get people's whole offline social graph to sign up.

TechCrunch

The securities laws require showing "intent" which is hard to prove and easy to deny.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

"This shows intent".

The New York Times

Jesus showed intent as soon as the second half started.

The Guardian - Sport

Prosecutors said her injuries showed intent to harm.

The New York Times

What kind of evidence shows "intent, preparation, plan"?

The New Yorker

The documents "certainly show intent," one official said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing actions, use "showing intent" to convey a deliberate and purposeful nature behind the behavior. It suggests more than just random action; it implies a goal.

Common error

Avoid using "showing intent" when describing actions that are unintentional or accidental. The phrase implies a conscious decision and directed effort.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "showing intent" functions as a verbal phrase, often used as part of a continuous verb construction (e.g., 'is showing intent'). It modifies a noun or pronoun, describing the action of outwardly displaying a particular aim or objective. As Ludwig AI suggests, it is generally considered grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

25%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "showing intent" is a grammatically correct and relatively common way to describe the outward display of a particular aim or purpose. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's generally considered acceptable in written English. While it doesn't appear as frequently as some other phrases, it is used across various contexts, including news, sports, and business. When using "showing intent", remember to focus on actions that clearly reveal a deliberate and purposeful nature, distinguishing them from unintentional or accidental behaviors. Consider alternatives like "demonstrating intention" or "indicating purpose" to fine-tune the emphasis of your message. The phrase is most frequently found in news and media sources but can also be used in scientific and formal business contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

demonstrating intention

Focuses more on the act of demonstrating rather than the visual aspect of showing.

indicating purpose

Emphasizes the communication of a goal rather than the display of it.

signifying determination

Highlights the resolute nature of the intention being displayed.

exhibiting resolve

Stresses the firmness and strength of the intent.

revealing motivation

Focuses on uncovering the underlying reasons behind an action.

displaying commitment

Highlights dedication and allegiance to a cause or goal.

portraying eagerness

Emphasizes enthusiasm and a strong desire to proceed.

projecting resolve

Focuses on how the intent is communicated to others.

expressing aim

Highlights the verbal or written communication of a goal.

making known one's intentions

A more formal way of saying "showing intent", emphasizing explicit communication.

FAQs

How can I use "showing intent" in a sentence?

You can use "showing intent" to describe actions that reveal a purpose or goal. For example: "The team's aggressive plays were "demonstrating intention" to win the game."

What's a more formal way to say "showing intent"?

A more formal alternative to "showing intent" is "demonstrating intention" or "indicating purpose", depending on the context.

Is "showing intent" always the same as "having intent"?

No, "showing intent" refers to the outward display of a goal, while "having intent" refers to the internal state of mind. One can have intent without "demonstrating intention", and actions can sometimes be misinterpreted as "showing intent" when that was not the actual aim.

What does it mean when someone is "showing intent" in a negotiation?

In a negotiation, "showing intent" means displaying a willingness to compromise or reach an agreement. It could involve making concessions or "indicating purpose" to find common ground.