whose purpose

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "whose purpose" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe the intended effect of the action taken by a person, group, or organization. For example: "The government launched a new social initiative, whose purpose was to improve healthcare outcomes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

New buildings whose purpose is unclear.

The New Yorker

Is there seriously someone in this team whose purpose revolves entirely around throwing boomerangs?

Independent

It was an all-day hearing whose purpose was to record comments on the proposed ruling.

The New Yorker

The school was a mill, whose purpose was to grind you into its product.

The New Yorker

This is a state whose purpose is to maximise the opportunities for all members of society.

The Economist

A cat is still technically a possession, but a possession whose purpose is companionship.

The New York Times - Magazine

At times, it seemed an affectation whose purpose was not quite clear.

The New York Times

"She said no to a Europe whose purpose she no longer understood".

The Economist

"There were Katyusha, whose purpose is to hit civilians," Vilnai told Israeli Army Radio.

The Guardian

"Developers are private-sector entities whose purpose is to make money.

The New York Times - Magazine

Users, but not customers, of a company whose purpose is undefined.

The Guardian - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "whose purpose" to clearly define the intended function or objective of a thing, action, or organization. It adds precision and clarifies intent.

Common error

Avoid confusing "whose" (possessive form of "who") with "who's" (contraction of "who is"). "Whose purpose" correctly indicates the purpose belonging to someone or something, while "who's purpose" is grammatically incorrect.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "whose purpose" functions as a relative pronoun introducing a relative clause that modifies a noun. It specifies the intended function, aim, or objective associated with that noun. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

73%

Science

20%

Wiki

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "whose purpose" is a grammatically correct and versatile phrase used to specify the intended function or objective of something. Ludwig AI confirms this. As demonstrated by numerous examples from reliable sources like The New York Times and The Guardian, it is widely employed across various contexts, particularly in news media and scientific writing. While alternatives such as "with the intention of" or "designed to" exist, "whose purpose" offers a direct and concise way to convey intent. Remember to differentiate between "whose" and "who's" to avoid common writing errors.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

whose function is

Directly states the role or operation performed by something.

that aims to

Highlights the objective or ambition behind an action or entity.

that seeks to

Emphasizes the active pursuit of a particular objective.

with the goal of

Emphasizes the desired result or achievement.

in order to

Expresses the objective of the action.

designed to

Highlights the design or planning aspect related to a specific goal.

meant to

Suggests a predetermined or planned function.

with the intention of

Focuses on the intended outcome or aim behind an action.

intended for

Focuses on the intended recipient or beneficiary of something.

for the sake of

Highlights that something is done for a specific advantage.

FAQs

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

Use "whose purpose" to specify the intended function or aim of something. For example: "The organization, "whose purpose" is to promote literacy, provides free books to children."

What are some alternatives to "whose purpose"?

You can use alternatives like "with the intention of", "designed to", or "that aims to" depending on the specific context.

Is "whose purpose" formal or informal?

"Whose purpose" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. It's a grammatically correct and widely understood phrase.

What's the difference between "whose purpose is" and "the purpose of which is"?

"Whose purpose is" directly modifies a noun, while "the purpose of which is" is more verbose and often used in more formal writing. Both are grammatically correct, but "whose purpose is" is more concise.