which intends

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "which intends" is not correct in standard written English.
It is typically used to introduce a clause that explains the purpose or aim of something, but it requires a subject and verb to be complete. Example: "The project, which intends to improve community health, has received funding."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

"Saudi Arabia, which intends to manage the Opec, serves the interests of the G20 group.

The Guardian

The museum, which intends to showcase the murderer's story, has sparked outrage among community campaigners who say they were misled.

Independent

The company, which intends to pay down debt, had originally set a price of between 210p and 262p.

Independent

Today, the council is holding a debate on international peace and security, which intends to focus on Africa.

The Guardian - Opinion

The properties have now been bought for £73m by LJ Capital, an investment fund which intends a major redevelopment.

The Guardian - Money

Pfizer, which intends eventually to occupy the entire building, quickly embarked on a gut rehabilitation of the first 10 floors.

The New York Times

Soon, it will become the property of the Department of Energy, which intends to keep it closed for all eternity.

The New Yorker

There is no admission fee at the new center, which intends to show both digital images and print photography.

The New York Times - Arts

The package would streamline the three strands of discussion into one track, which intends to draft a new treaty by 2015 coming into force by 2020.

Independent

It was hoped they would appear on Panorama, which intends to run separate interviews with the two men and Nick Clegg in half-hour specials starting next Monday.

The Guardian

So will its financial action task-force on money laundering, which intends by June to list on a website those countries it sees as especially unco-operative.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use a grammatically correct verb form after "which" to clearly indicate the subject's intent. Instead of "which intends", opt for alternatives like "which aims to" or "which is intended to".

Common error

Avoid using "which intends" directly. It's more correct to use "which is intended to" or rephrase with stronger verbs like "aims", "seeks", or "plans" to improve clarity and grammatical accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "which intends" functions as a relative clause aiming to specify the purpose or goal of the noun it modifies. However, it's often considered grammatically incorrect, as noted by Ludwig AI, requiring adjustments for standard written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Science

37%

Formal & Business

4%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "which intends" appears frequently, it's generally considered grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI identifies it as needing correction for proper usage. Alternatives like "which aims to", "which is designed to", or "which seeks to" provide grammatically sound ways to express the intended purpose or function. The phrase is commonly found in news and scientific contexts, but writers should prefer more accurate alternatives, especially in formal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

which aims to

Replaces "intends" with a more grammatically sound verb, maintaining the original meaning.

that aims to

Uses "that" instead of "which", suitable when introducing a restrictive clause defining the subject's goal.

which seeks to

Emphasizes a deliberate effort or search for a specific outcome, similar to intending.

that seeks to

Replaces “which” with “that” to define the subject’s search for a specific outcome.

which plans to

Focuses on the planned actions of the subject, indicating a set course of action.

that plans to

Replaces “which” with “that” when talking about a plan of action.

which is designed to

Highlights the design or inherent purpose of something, rather than its intended use.

that is designed to

Replaces “which” with “that” to stress the design of something to achieve a goal.

which has the purpose of

Explicitly states the intended function or goal, adding clarity to the sentence.

that has the purpose of

Replaces “which” with “that” to state the goal with higher precision.

FAQs

How can I correctly use a phrase to express intent following "which"?

Instead of saying "which intends", use phrases like "which aims to", "which is designed to", or "which seeks to". For example, instead of "a project which intends to improve community health", say "a project "which aims to" improve community health".

What's a more formal alternative to "which intends"?

For a formal tone, consider using "which is designed to" or "which has the purpose of". These phrases provide a clearer and more professional way to express the intended function or goal.

Is "which intends" grammatically correct?

No, "which intends" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. A correct phrasing would be "which is intended to", or a stronger verb like "which aims to" should be used.

What's the difference between "which intends" and "which is intended to"?

"Which intends" is grammatically incomplete. "Which is intended to" is grammatically correct and clearly indicates the intended purpose. Rephrasing with an active verb, such as "which seeks to", also provides a stronger alternative.