whose only purpose is

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "whose only purpose is" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a person, thing, or concept whose purpose is limited to one specific goal. For example, "She designs robots whose only purpose is to clean the house."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

51 human-written examples

Who among us walks the streets now without some primal fear that we might - at any minute, become victims to purposeful killing - killing whose only purpose is to intimidate?

HuffPost

It's a regulation whose only purpose is to be breached.

The Guardian - Opinion

We should avoid blind quotations whose only purpose is to add color to a story.

The Washington Post

South Korea's training of special forces whose only purpose is to "decapitate" the Pyongyang regime will likely increase his paranoia.

The Guardian

Your character doesn't arrive as an outsider in a new city and start carrying out the requests of people whose only purpose is seemingly to delay him.

The New York Times - Arts

Patent trolls buy or create patent portfolios whose only purpose is to extort fees from the companies that actually make the things that the patents supposedly cover.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

9 human-written examples

"He was somebody whose only purpose was to help innocent people, themselves victims of conflict.

The Guardian

But, then, his was a costume drama whose only purpose was to remove its costume.

The Guardian

In the '60s and 70s, "conglomerate" suggested a corporation whose only purpose was to maintain….

The New Yorker

She described the royal as a "shop-window mannequin", "gloss-varnished" with no personality and whose only purpose was to breed.

The Guardian

"We deplore the actions of those whose only purpose was to cause mayhem and the students involved will be held accountable" Huote said.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "whose only purpose is", ensure the subject clearly has only one defined aim to avoid ambiguity. For instance, "a tool whose only purpose is to kill" leaves no room for misinterpretation.

Common error

Avoid using "whose only purpose is" when the subject actually has multiple purposes, even if one is dominant. Instead, use phrases like "whose primary purpose is" or "whose main function is" to acknowledge additional functions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "whose only purpose is" functions as a relative clause modifying a noun, specifying the sole intention or function associated with it. As Ludwig AI indicates, this usage is grammatically correct and common in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

71%

Academia

14%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Science

6%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "whose only purpose is" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to specify the sole intention or function of a subject. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and common, appearing mostly in news and media. Alternatives like "which solely aims to" or "that primarily functions to" can be used, depending on the context and desired emphasis. When using the phrase, ensure that the subject truly has only one defined aim to avoid ambiguity. Be mindful not to use the phrase when the subject has multiple purposes; instead, opt for expressions like "whose main purpose is". Overall, using "whose only purpose is" effectively enhances clarity and precision in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

which solely aims to

Replaces "whose only purpose is" with "which solely aims to", focusing on the intention behind the action.

that exclusively intends to

Uses "exclusively intends to" instead of "only purpose", highlighting the exclusivity of the intention.

that primarily functions to

Shifts the focus from purpose to function, using "primarily functions to" to indicate the main function.

that mainly serves to

Emphasizes the service or role of something, replacing "purpose" with "serves".

that essentially exists to

Highlights the reason for existence, using "essentially exists to" to convey the core reason.

that is fundamentally designed to

Focuses on the design aspect, indicating the fundamental design intention.

that specifically targets

Replaces the idea of purpose with a specific target or goal.

with the single intention of

Uses a more formal structure to emphasize the singular intention.

with the primary goal of

Replaces "purpose" with "goal", focusing on the intended outcome.

that is principally geared towards

Highlights the principal direction or focus.

FAQs

How can I use "whose only purpose is" in a sentence?

Use "whose only purpose is" to clearly define a single, specific function or aim. For example, "a device "whose only purpose is" to measure temperature" indicates that measuring temperature is the device's sole function.

What are some alternatives to "whose only purpose is"?

You can use alternatives such as "which solely aims to", "that primarily functions to", or "with the single intention of depending on the context".

Is it redundant to use "only purpose" if the sentence already implies a singular aim?

While not always redundant, "only purpose" emphasizes the singularity of the aim. If the context already makes this clear, it might be omitted for brevity, but including it adds emphasis.

What's the difference between "whose only purpose is" and "whose main purpose is"?

"Whose only purpose is" indicates a singular, exclusive aim. "Whose main purpose is" implies that there may be other purposes, but one is dominant.