were primarily intended

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "were primarily intended" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe the main purpose or goal of something in the past. Example: "The changes to the policy were primarily intended to improve employee satisfaction and productivity."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

THE RESPONSE -- Democrats said the complaints were primarily intended to win a public-relations war.

The New York Times

The phones were primarily intended to compete with portable gaming consoles like the Nintendo DS and the Sony PlayStation Portable.

The New York Times - Tech

Italian officials say that the antiaircraft batteries they set up in Genoa were primarily intended to deter an attack from a small plane.

The New York Times

Early in the recession asset purchases were primarily intended to ease credit by directing a firehose of liquidity into fearful markets.

The Economist

Some huiguan were primarily intended for officials and examination candidates; these were located in the capitals of provinces and in Beijing.

Encyclopedia Britannica

U.N. Resolutions 661 and 687, which banned foreigners from trading with Iraq everything except medical supplies and food used for humanitarian purposes, were primarily intended to prevent Hussein's regime from acquiring weapons of mass destruction and long-range ballistic missiles.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

The databases are primarily intended to prevent people from obtaining multiple licenses under different names.

The New York Times

It would supply Long Island but is primarily intended for the larger metropolitan area.

The New York Times

The surgery is primarily intended to make labia smaller or more symmetrical.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

True, the meeting was primarily intended to set a bold agenda, which it did.

The Economist

The policies, generally for as little as a few hundred dollars, are primarily intended to cover burial costs.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "were primarily intended", ensure that the context clearly indicates what the secondary or less important intentions were, to provide a complete picture.

Common error

Avoid implying that there were no other intentions. Even if something was "primarily intended" for one purpose, other purposes might have been considered or resulted from it. A more nuanced sentence will improve clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were primarily intended" functions as a verb phrase that specifies the main purpose or goal behind an action, design, or plan. As Ludwig AI confirms, this construction is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

33%

Wiki

13%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

7%

Formal & Business

7%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "were primarily intended" serves to highlight the main purpose or objective behind something, while acknowledging that other intentions may also be present. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used across various contexts, including news, science, and encyclopedic content. When employing this phrase, ensure clarity by hinting at the existence of secondary intentions to give a comprehensive view. Alternatives like ""were chiefly designed"" or ""were mainly aimed at"" can be used depending on the specific nuance needed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were chiefly designed

Focuses on the design aspect, emphasizing the original planning.

were mainly aimed at

Highlights the target or goal of the intention.

were largely purposed for

Emphasizes the purpose behind the action or creation.

were essentially created for

Highlights the core reason for the creation or action.

were principally conceived as

Stresses the initial idea or concept behind something.

were predominantly geared towards

Indicates a strong inclination or direction towards a specific outcome.

were fundamentally planned for

Emphasizes the basic or essential planning involved.

were originally meant for

Focuses on the original intention, possibly contrasting with the current use.

were specially designed to

Highlights that design had a special focus.

were specifically targeted at

Highlights that the intention targeted a specific demographic.

FAQs

How can I rephrase the sentence "They were primarily intended for anti-shipping missions"?

You can rephrase it as "They "were chiefly designed" for anti-shipping missions" or "They "were mainly aimed at" anti-shipping missions", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "was primarily intended" instead of "were primarily intended"?

Yes, but the choice depends on the subject. Use "was" with a singular subject (e.g., "The tool was primarily intended for analysis"), and "were" with a plural subject (e.g., "The tools were primarily intended for analysis").

What is the difference between "were primarily intended" and "were solely intended"?

"Were primarily intended" means that something had a main purpose, but possibly other purposes as well. "Were "were solely intended"" means that something had only one purpose and no other considerations were involved.

How can I use "were primarily intended" in a sentence?

You can use it to specify the main purpose of something, like: "The new regulations "were primarily intended" to improve safety standards."