unintended

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'unintended' is correct and can be used in written English.
It is an adjective which means something that was not deliberately done or intended. Example Sentence: The politician had to apologize for the unintended consequences of the proposed policy.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It is possible that many of your measures have been subject to a law of unintended consequences.

The Guardian - Opinion

"We need to initiate research so we can understand the intended and unintended consequences of these methods so that, if we ever do need to deploy them, we can do so in a sensible and effective way".

The Guardian

Another unintended consequence is the seeking of bargain work in Asia and eastern Europe.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Such antiquated policy in the treatment of our neighbours stands in disproportionate contrast to the "unintended" incursions of naval ships, armed to the teeth with every piece of radar and satellite equipment under the sun, who have suffered no cost or damage as a result of their action.

The Guardian - Opinion

"But... you get this terrible interconnection of unintended consequences".

The Guardian - Tech

Despite caretakers appearing to be much more effective in building community trust than the installation of CCTV, gating and door entry systems, they are not acknowledged by SBD, which is a blunt instrument, incapable of adapting to complex unintended consequences.

The Guardian

Confirming the UK's withdrawal, the new Foreign Office minister, Lady Anelay, highlighted an "unintended pull factor"' of search and rescue: "that it encourages more migrants to attempt the dangerous sea crossing, thereby leading to more tragic and unnecessary deaths".

The Guardian - Opinion

The committee calls for a "yellow card" approach whereby claimants who breach rules for trivial or unintended infringements receive "pre-sanction written warnings" rather than having payments stopped.

The Guardian

Then, to there's the pesky matter of unintended consequences.

The Guardian - Money

But war is still war, and the dangers of unintended consequences, mission creep and cracking on for the sake of cracking on lurk behind every sandhill.

The Guardian - Opinion

Yellen's position attracted criticism from Republican senators worried about the unintended consequences of the Fed's bond-buying stimulus, which is aimed at keeping interest rates at record lows.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "unintended" when you specifically want to highlight that an outcome was not part of the original plan or purpose.

Common error

Avoid using "unintended" when you specifically mean "unwanted". "Unintended" simply means not planned, while "unwanted" expresses a negative valuation of the outcome.

Linguistic Context

The adjective "unintended" primarily functions as a modifier, describing nouns, especially in the context of consequences or outcomes. It indicates that the modified noun was not deliberately planned or aimed for. Ludwig confirms its correct usage as an adjective.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

8%

Wiki

5%

Reference

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "unintended" functions as an adjective to describe something not planned or deliberate. Ludwig AI confirms it's correct and widely used. It's crucial to differentiate it from "unwanted", as "unintended" simply denotes a lack of intention, while "unwanted" implies an undesirable outcome. The phrase is very common across News & Media, Formal & Business, and Science contexts. When writing, consider the nuances between "unintended" and similar terms like "unforeseen" or "accidental" for precise communication. Recognizing these subtleties will enhance clarity and accuracy in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unintentional

Directly states the absence of intention.

accidental

Suggests that something happened by chance or without intention.

inadvertent

Implies a lack of attention or care, leading to an unintended result.

non-intentional

Highlights the absence of deliberate intent.

unanticipated

Stresses the unexpected nature of the outcome.

unforeseen

Focuses on the lack of anticipation or prediction.

unplanned

Emphasizes the lack of prior arrangement or design.

by accident

States that something was not planned or prearranged.

unwitting

Emphasizes a lack of awareness or knowledge.

undesired

Highlights that outcome was not wanted.

FAQs

How to use "unintended" in a sentence?

Use "unintended" to describe something that happened as a result of an action, but was not the planned or expected outcome. For example, "The policy had several "unforeseen consequences"."

What can I say instead of "unintended"?

You can use alternatives like "unintentional", "accidental", or "unplanned" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Which is correct, "unintended consequences" or "unintentional consequences"?

Both "unintended consequences" and "unintentional consequences" are correct and often used interchangeably. "Unintended" emphasizes the lack of planning, while "unintentional" emphasizes the lack of deliberate action.

What's the difference between "unintended" and "unexpected"?

"Unintended" refers specifically to outcomes that were not part of the original plan or purpose. "Unexpected" is a broader term that simply means something that was not anticipated, regardless of whether it was related to a plan.