work as intended

USAGE SUMMARY

'work as intended' is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
You can use it when you want to describe something that has been functioning in the way it was designed to. For example, you could say: "The new device has been working as intended since it was installed."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The move didn't work as intended.

The New York Times

Never mind that even these did not work as intended.

The Economist

She added: "Those systems did not work as intended.

The New York Times

The model assumes these policies all work as intended.

The New York Times

But let's assume that, eventually, Mose will work as intended.

The Guardian - Opinion

Some companies grab songs that don't quite work as intended.

The New York Times

Even if the devices work as intended, hospitals face a steep learning curve.

The New York Times

With remarkable understatement, it noted that "the fund does not work as intended".

The New York Times

One part that clearly did not work as intended were the emergency slides.

The New York Times

The goal of functional verification is to prove that a design will work as intended.

Principles of Functional Verification

Yet they still couldn't get their high-tech system to work as intended.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the performance of a system or device, use "work as intended" to clearly communicate that it is functioning according to its design specifications.

Common error

Avoid using "work as intended" when referring to subjective outcomes. This phrase is best suited for describing objective functionality rather than personal satisfaction or perceived value.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "work as intended" serves as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb to describe the manner in which something functions. Ludwig indicates the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used, supporting its role in standard English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

51%

Science

29%

Academia

8%

Less common in

Wiki

7%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "work as intended" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to describe that something is functioning according to its design or plan. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is appropriate across various contexts, particularly in news, science, and academic settings. When using "work as intended", ensure you're referring to objective functionality rather than subjective satisfaction. Alternatives like "function as designed" or "operate as expected" can provide nuanced variations depending on the specific context. The abundance of examples found in Ludwig illustrates its common use and acceptance in standard English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

function as designed

Replaces "work" with "function" and "intended" with "designed", focusing on the design aspect.

operate as expected

Substitutes "work" with "operate" and "intended" with "expected", highlighting the expected outcome.

perform as planned

Changes "work" to "perform" and "intended" to "planned", emphasizing the planned execution.

achieve its purpose

Replaces the entire phrase with a more concise expression focusing on fulfilling the intended purpose.

serve its function

Focuses on the designed function being fulfilled.

deliver the desired outcome

Highlights the delivery of the anticipated outcome.

meet expectations

A more general phrase indicating that expectations are satisfied.

live up to its promise

Implies that the phrase fulfills an initial promise or expectation.

prove effective

Focuses on the effectiveness of the subject, implying it achieves its intended result.

realize its potential

Emphasizes that the full potential is achieved, implying that the intention behind it is successful.

FAQs

What does "work as intended" mean?

The phrase "work as intended" means that something is functioning or performing in the way it was designed or expected to. It suggests that the intended purpose or design of a system, process, or object is being successfully achieved.

How can I use "work as intended" in a sentence?

You can use "work as intended" to describe a variety of scenarios. For example: "The safety mechanisms "operated as intended" during the emergency shutdown", or "The new software updates "are working as intended", improving overall system performance."

What are some alternatives to "work as intended"?

Some alternatives to "work as intended" include "function as designed", "operate as expected", or "perform as planned". The choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "worked as intended" instead of "work as intended"?

Yes, both forms are correct but they indicate different tenses. "Work as intended" is typically used in the present tense to describe a current state, while "worked as intended" is used in the past tense to describe something that functioned correctly at a previous time. For example: "The prototype didn't work as intended during initial testing".