the purpose of this document

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "the purpose of this document" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when introducing the main objective or intent of a document, such as a report, proposal, or policy. Example: "The purpose of this document is to outline the new procedures for employee onboarding."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

38 human-written examples

The purpose of this document is to show instructors and teaching fellows how they can access the Group's Homepage.

Yale University

The purpose of this document is to offer guidance on science-based triggers for these extended evaluations.

Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology

For the purpose of this document "property" is defined as capital and non-capital movable assets including, but not limited to, equipment and accessories, furniture, vehicles, or supplies.

Stanford University

The purpose of this document is to "translate" scholarly research for a concerned public audience, which may include but is not limited to parents, caregivers, educators, and practitioners.

Harvard University

The purpose of this document is to describe what each of the rules means, and also give an example for each rule.

Harvard University

The purpose of this document is to provide a summary for the reporting of endovascular revascularization techniques in the setting of chronic disease.

Journal of Vascular Surgery

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

22 human-written examples

That core, the government argues, should be counted as a "filler" for the purposes of this document.

BBC

For the purposes of this document, creationism is defined as, "any doctrine or theory which holds that natural biological processes cannot account for the history, diversity, and complexity of life on earth and therefore rejects the scientific theory of evolution".

Huffington Post

The purpose of this consensus document was to reach an agreement among experts on the multidisciplinary care of patients with acute heart failure.

Revista Clínica Española

Once again, far from empowering residents, the purpose of this policy document is to manufacture resident consent to a demolition scheme.

Vice

And that was the purpose of drafting this document in the first place".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "the purpose of this document" to clearly and concisely state the main reason for writing the document, setting expectations for the reader.

Common error

Avoid starting a document without a clear statement of purpose. If the reader is unsure why they are reading the document, they are less likely to engage with the content and understand its importance.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "the purpose of this document" functions as a noun phrase acting as a subject complement. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used to introduce the central aim or objective of a written work.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Academia

40%

Science

35%

News & Media

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Wiki

5%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "the purpose of this document" serves as a crucial introductory phrase, clearly stating a document's main objective. Ludwig AI indicates that this phrase is grammatically sound and frequently employed across various contexts, including academia, science, and news media. While alternatives like "the aim of this document" or "the objective of this document" exist, "the purpose of this document" remains a direct and widely understood way to set reader expectations. Remember to clearly define your document's purpose early on to enhance reader engagement and comprehension.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the aim of this document

Replaces "purpose" with "aim", offering a slightly more general sense of intention.

the objective of this document

Substitutes "purpose" with "objective", emphasizing a specific, measurable goal.

the intent of this document

Replaces "purpose" with "intent", focusing on the underlying intention or motivation.

the goal of this document

Similar to "objective", but can sometimes imply a broader, less strictly defined target.

this document aims to

Restructures the phrase to begin with the document itself, emphasizing agency.

this document intends to

Similar to the previous alternative, but replaces "aims" with "intends", clarifying the underlying intention.

this document serves to

Highlights the function or role of the document.

the function of this document is

Focuses specifically on the functional role the document plays.

this is to define

Omits the more verbose phrasing to make a direct statement of purpose.

here we discuss

Introduces the document's subject and scope.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "the purpose of this document"?

Alternatives include "the aim of this document", "the objective of this document", or "the intent of this document", each offering a slightly different nuance. Consider also restructuring the sentence to begin with 'This document aims to' or 'This document intends to'.

What is the difference between "the purpose of this document" and "the scope of this document"?

"The purpose of this document" refers to its main reason for being, while the scope defines the boundaries of what it covers. For instance, the purpose might be to analyze a policy, while the scope details which aspects of the policy are analyzed.

Is it necessary to include "the purpose of this document" in every report?

While not strictly mandatory, including a clear statement of purpose is highly recommended, especially in formal reports. It helps readers quickly understand the document's focus and relevance. If you are considering a more generic intro sentence, alternatives like "this is to define" can be an option.

Where should I place the statement of "the purpose of this document"?

Ideally, place it early in the document, such as in the introduction or executive summary, to immediately orient the reader. Placing it later might cause initial confusion about the document's objectives.