that were intended for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "that were intended for" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate the purpose or target audience of something, often referring to items, messages, or actions meant for a specific group or individual. Example: "The documents that were intended for the board meeting were misplaced."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

48 human-written examples

No, you should not use course materials that were intended for students in an earlier year.

Stanford University

But some of the seizures were commercial shipments that were intended for resale, customs officials said.

The New York Times

Wiretaps on Mr. Maflahi's cellphone showed that he took calls that were intended for the sheik.

The New York Times

Table 1 ( pdf ) summarizes observations obtained with XMM and Chandra that were intended for use in cross-calibration.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Near these is a pile of polyurethane casts of a woman's belly that were intended for mass production as pillows.

The New York Times - Arts

Cornelius Johnson, the Mission cook, was barbecuing plump chickens that were intended for the undernourished peoples of the region.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

12 human-written examples

Access also can be a problem, as roads sometimes cross land that is intended for development.

The New York Times

It is commonly used for recording television productions that are intended for rebroadcasting to mass audiences.

Britannica

An image from an ad that was intended for Mr. Bloomberg's campaign.

The New York Times

Our content can't have embedded presentation markup that was intended for only one platform.

Harvard Business Review

Be particularly wary of funds with high minimums that are intended for institutions, specialists say.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "that were intended for", ensure the context clearly identifies the intended recipient or purpose to avoid ambiguity. For instance, specify "funds that were intended for cancer research" rather than just "funds that were intended."

Common error

Avoid omitting "that" in formal writing as it can lead to ambiguity. While colloquial speech might drop "that", maintaining it ensures clarity and grammatical correctness. Instead of saying "the gifts were intended for her", use "the gifts that were intended for her."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "that were intended for" functions as a relative clause, modifying a noun or noun phrase by specifying the purpose or intended recipient. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

39%

Science

35%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "that were intended for" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase to specify the target or purpose of something. As Ludwig AI confirms, its versatility makes it suitable for various contexts, from news reports to academic papers. While simpler alternatives exist, maintaining "that" in formal writing ensures clarity. The phrase appears most frequently in News & Media and Scientific contexts, making it a valuable tool for precise communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

that were meant for

Replaces "intended" with "meant", offering a more informal and common alternative.

that were designed for

Substitutes "intended" with "designed", emphasizing the planning or creation aspect.

that were designated for

Uses "designated" instead of "intended", highlighting official assignment or allocation.

that were earmarked for

Replaces "intended" with "earmarked", indicating that something has been set aside for a specific purpose.

that were destined for

Uses "destined" instead of "intended", suggesting a predetermined outcome or recipient.

that were created for

Replaces "intended" with "created", emphasizing the act of making something for a specific reason.

that were suited for

Uses "suited" instead of "intended", focusing on appropriateness or fitness for a particular purpose.

that were tailored for

Replaces "intended" with "tailored", suggesting a customized or specialized adaptation.

that were aimed at

Changes the structure to "aimed at", emphasizing the target or recipient of the action.

that had been planned for

Replaces "intended" with "planned", focusing on the planning stage of an action or objective.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "that were intended for" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "that were designated for", "that were allocated to", or "that were earmarked for". These alternatives emphasize the official or deliberate nature of the intention.

What's a simpler way to say "that were intended for"?

You can use simpler alternatives like "that were meant for", or "that were for". These options are less formal but convey the same basic meaning.

How do I avoid misusing "that were intended for" in a sentence?

Ensure that the subject "that were intended for" modifies is clearly defined and grammatically consistent within the sentence. For example, "the resources "that were intended for" education" is clearer than "the intended education resources".

Is it always necessary to include "that" in "that were intended for"?

While omitting "that" is sometimes acceptable in informal speech, it's generally best to include it in formal writing for clarity and grammatical correctness. Omitting "that" can sometimes lead to ambiguity or misinterpretation.