without any intention

USAGE SUMMARY

"without any intention" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe an action that was done unintentionally. For example, "She bumped into him without any intention of starting a conversation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He made a promise without any intention of fulfilling it.

The New York Times

Wasn't it the case that in life, we often speak without any "intention"?

The Guardian

North Korea joined the NPT without any intention of honouring its anti-nuclear rules.

The Economist

The previous Liberal government had signed on to Kyoto in 1997 without any intention of meeting its targets, he said.

The Guardian

"A taxpayer may fall within the ambit of the offence without any intention or knowledge on their part".

The Guardian

The script is difficult to read because it was written hastily for private use, without any intention of meeting professional standards.

Cornell University

As members of the historic Protestant churches embraced Pentecostal beliefs and practices, they did so without any intention of withdrawing from their own churches.

Britannica

Before the album, she had rarely if ever performed publicly, and claimed she began recording without any intention of ever releasing the songs.

The New York Times

Today's statement, he said, "can be interpreted as part of the first steps toward eventual rate hikes without any intention of becoming restrictive".

The New York Times

On the Roma community, Johnson says he draws the line at allowing people to come to the UK without any intention of finding work.

The Guardian

So when I started writing, a play just came, like, without any intention of being my future or my profession or my career.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "without any intention" to clearly convey that an action was unintentional or unplanned. This emphasizes the absence of premeditation.

Common error

Avoid attributing malice or deliberate intent to actions that were genuinely performed "without any intention". Misinterpreting unintentional actions can lead to misunderstandings and conflict.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "without any intention" functions primarily as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate the manner in which an action was performed. As Ludwig AI confirms, it specifies that the action occurred unintentionally. Examples from Ludwig illustrate its use in describing actions done inadvertently.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "without any intention" is a versatile adverbial phrase used to clearly indicate that an action or statement was unintentional. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usability. Its frequency is "Very common" across various contexts, particularly in News & Media, Science, and Academia. When using this phrase, ensure it accurately reflects the absence of deliberate planning and avoid misattributing intent to unintentional actions. Related phrases such as "unintentionally" and "inadvertently" offer concise alternatives. By understanding its usage and nuances, you can effectively communicate the lack of premeditation in various situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

without meaning to

Directly states the absence of intent, similar to the original phrase.

unintentionally

Single-word adverb focusing on the lack of intention behind an action; more concise.

without any purpose

Highlights the absence of a specific aim or goal behind an action.

inadvertently

Highlights the accidental or unintentional nature of an action.

accidentally

Emphasizes the chance or unplanned nature of an event.

without any design

Emphasizes the lack of a deliberate plan or scheme.

unwittingly

Suggests a lack of awareness or knowledge, leading to an unintended action.

without a second thought

Suggests acting impulsively or without considering the consequences.

by chance

Focuses on the role of luck or randomness in an event.

on impulse

Highlights the spontaneous and unplanned nature of an action.

FAQs

How can I use "without any intention" in a sentence?

You can use "without any intention" to describe an action that was unintentional or unplanned. For example, "She offended him "without any intention" of doing so".

What are some alternatives to saying "without any intention"?

Alternatives include "unintentionally", "inadvertently", or "accidentally", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to use "without intention" or "without any intention"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but "without any intention" is generally considered more emphatic and commonly used.

What's the difference between doing something "without intention" and doing it "unintentionally"?

While similar, "without intention" emphasizes the absence of a plan or goal, whereas "unintentionally" focuses on the lack of deliberate action. They're often interchangeable but can have subtle differences in meaning.